VIRGINIA BEACH — Windsor Woods residents who have been dealing with an unpleasant smell coming from the creek behind their houses may soon get some relief.
Del. Michael Feggans, who represents the district, is working on a plan for environmental nonprofit organizations to fund the installation of an aerator in Thalia Creek. He hopes it will improve the water quality, which could alleviate the stench.
An aerator increases oxygen levels in water, breaking down organic muck and reducing algae growth. He and resident John Kirby visited the end of the creek along the 500-block of Water Oak Road on Friday to discuss the potential solution.
Mosquitos circled their legs, and as the breeze picked up, a sulfur-like smell emanated from the still, mucky, greenish-colored water between two rows of houses.
“Down here is where a lot of residents were complaining about the smell,” said Feggans, as he stepped through the brush to stand along the water’s edge.
Kirby first noticed the odor from the creek behind his house several years ago.
“You can’t even sit in your home some days,” he said. “It burns your eyes, your throat.”
John Kirby, a resident near the foul-smelling body of water near Mount Trashmore, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Sept. 5, 2025. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler alerted Feggans about the stink issue last month after residents contacted news media. Their concerns, along with lawmakers’ outreach, initiated an investigation by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Feggans said.
Initial tests indicate no foul play. Rather, Mother Nature’s not-so-pretty side is showing.
“No indications of a pollution incident were found,” according to the DEQ incident report. “The City took water samples and the results support the determination that the odor is not caused by a discreet incident, but is rather due to natural conditions indicative of a low-flow waterbody that receives storm water.”
The creek is an offshoot of Lake Windsor, which is fed mostly by storm water. The lake is adjacent to Mount Trashmore, a former landfill that was converted into a public park.
There’s no leakage from Mount Trashmore, which was a concern of some residents, according to Feggans.
“That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a smell, and there weren’t quality of life issues,” he said.
Feggans said there may be other areas of the city and the state where the management of creeks such as the one in Windsor Woods need more oversight by localities. He’s considering sponsoring legislation during next year’s General Assembly sessions that would address the issue, but for now he’s focused on Water Oak Road.
“We need to start off with trying to find some relief for these residents here,” he said.
Del. Michael Feggans, right, meets with John Kirby, a resident near the foul-smelling body of water near Mount Trashmore, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Sept. 5, 2025. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
After doing some research and meeting with the city’s Department of Public Works this week, Feggans said he suggested using an aerator to clean the water. He expects to secure funding within the next four months and plans to work with homeowners and the city on the installation. Feggans said he’s still researching the potential cost, noting aerators can range from $500 to $5,000.
Resident Sarah Gray said the stench has become stronger and more prevalent in recent years since the city began dredging the creek following Hurricane Matthew.
“Every year, it’s just more and more extreme,” she said. “It’s bad.”
Gray hopes the aerator will help.
“If it will work, I think it will be great,” she said.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
Originally Published: September 5, 2025 at 7:53 PM EDT