BEACHNET==> New Article: Sunlight, season, snowmelt, storm, and source affect E. coli populations in an artificially ponded stream (Dunes Creek, Indiana)

[Richard L Whitman <rwhitman@usgs.gov>]

This paper describes a 30 month experiment
to reduced the E. coli of Dunes Creek on to a popular state park's swimming
beach by creating a shallow retention ponds upstream.  We examine
population changes, factors limiting remediation, and potential of this
pilot project to improve overall water quality downstream and the beach.
 Hope you will find it useful.  I will have a limited number
of reprints available.

Science of The Total Environment
Volume 390, Issues 2-3, 15 February 2008, Pages 448-455

Abstract

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doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.014

Copyright © 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Sunlight, season, snowmelt, storm, and source affect E. coli populations in an artificially ponded stream

Richard L. Whitman^{, 1, a,} , Katarzyna Przybyla-Kelly^a, Dawn A. Shively^a, Meredith B. Nevers^a and Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli^a
aUnited States Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, 1100 North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, Indiana, 46304, USA
Received 28 August 2007;  revised 14 September 2007;  accepted 11 October 2007.  Available online 26 November 2007.

Abstract

Reducing fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), in streams is important for many downstream areas. E. coli concentrations within streams may be reduced by intervening ponds or wetlands through a number of physical and biological means. A section of Dunes Creek, a small coastal stream of southern Lake Michigan, was impounded and studied for 30 months from pre-through post-construction of the experimental pond. E. coli reduction became more predictable and effective with pond age. E. coli followed the hydrograph and increased several-fold during both rainfall and snowmelt events. Seasonally, the pond was more effective at reducing E. coli during summer than winter. Late summer, non-solar reduction or inactivation of E. coli in the pond was estimated at 72% and solar inactivation at 26%. E. coli DNA fingerprinting demonstrated that the winter population was genetically more homogeneous than the summer population. Detection of FRNA coliphages suggests that there was fecal contamination during heavy rain events. An understanding of how environmental factors interact with E. coli populations is important for assessing anticipated contaminant loading and the reduction of indicator bacteria in downstream reaches.

Keywords: Indicator bacteria; Sunlight reduction; Rainfall; Snowmelt; Remediation; Wetland

Corresponding author. Tel.:+1 219 926 8336x424; fax: +1 219 929 5792.
¹ R. Whitman and M. Byappanahalli contributed equally to this work.

Science of The Total Environment Volume 390, Issues 2-3, 15 February 2008, Pages 448-455

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.014




Richard Whitman
Research Ecologist/Station Chief
Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station
219-926-8336 Ext. 424
1100 North Mineral Springs Road 
Porter, IN 46304