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Lower Grand River Watershed E. coli
Investigation and Remediation Project
16th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring
Workshop September 15, 2008
E. Wendy Ogilvie, LEED AP Fishbeck, Thompson,
Carr Huber, Inc.
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Lower Grand River Watershed
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Lower Grand River Watershed
Coldwater River
Buck Creek
Plaster Creek
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E. coli Implementation Project

• Introduction
• USEPA-approved TMDL for pathogens
• Plaster Creek 2002
• Coldwater River 2005
• Buck Creek 2006
• Lower Grand River Watershed
• Watershed Management Plans approved in 2004

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E. coli Implementation Project

• Project scope and schedule
• Conduct dry and wet weather sampling
• Analyze data
• Identify E. coli sources
• Implement Best Management Practices
• Evaluate process
• Recommend next remediation steps

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Michigan Water Quality Standards

• TMDL
• The maximum pollution amount a waterbody can
  assimilate without violating state water quality
  standards
• (Michigan R 323.1062 Microorganisms, Rule 62)

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Michigan Water Quality Standards

• For total body contact recreation (swimming)
• mean
• (Michigan R 323.1062
• Microorganisms, Rule 62)

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Michigan Water Quality Standards

• Partial body contact recreation (fishing,
  boating)
• mean
• (Michigan R 323.1062
• Microorganisms, Rule 62)

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Impacts of E. coli

• Good vs. bad
• E. coli normally lives inside intestines, it
  helps break down and digest food.
• A rare variety of E. coli O157H7 can produce
  large quantities of one or more related, potent
  toxins that cause severe damage to the lining of
  the intestine.

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Buck Creek Watershed
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Dry Weather Sampling

• Buck Creek Watershed

Sampling Results BCK-12 365 - 9,210 (cfu/100
ml)
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Wet Weather Sampling

• Buck Creek Watershed

Sampling Results BCK-10 2,282 - 38,000
(cfu/100)
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Lower Grand River Watershed
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Plaster Creek Watershed
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Dry Weather Sampling

• Plaster Creek Watershed

Sampling Results PC-10 2,420 - 24,200 (cfu/100
ml)
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Wet Weather Sampling
Plaster Creek Watershed
Sampling Results PC-09 4,900 - 104,620 (cfu/100
ml)
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Lower Grand River Watershed
Coldwater River
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Coldwater River Watershed
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Dry Weather Sampling
Coldwater River Watershed
Sampling Results CR 02 488 - 3.650 (cfu/100ml)
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Wet Weather Sampling
Coldwater River Watershed
Sampling Results CR 02 1,200 - 120,330
(cfu/100 ml)
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Impacts of E. coli

• Tyler Creek Fish Kill 7/27/06
• 2,000 brown trout, from 3 - 20 inches
• Estimated damages 100,000
• High fecal matter and ammonia levels in fish
  gills
• TBC-10 sampling site
• 1,800 before spill
• 684 after spill

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Impacts of E. coli

• Beach closings
• Grand Haven
• August 2004
• July 2005
• July 2007

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E. coli Data Analysis

• USEPA Water Resources Database (WRDB)
• Setup station information
• Tracks data results and sampling information
• Generate graphs

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E. coli Data Analysis

• Excellent tool for collecting samples
• Organization and quality control
• Less efficient for data entry
• Repetitive steps
• Limited graphing capabilities
• Import to model
• Not available for E. coli parameters

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E. coli Data Analysis

• GIS ESRI ArcMap allowed use of two data types
• Number of samples
• Frequency exceeding standards

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E. coli Data Analysis

• Data type
• Number of samples
• Historical and current
• Various sources

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E. coli Data Analysis

• Data type
• Frequency exceeding standards

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Sources of E. coli

• Multiple potential sources
• Agricultural
• Feedlot runoff
• Manure application and runoff
• Livestock access

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Sources of E. coli

• Multiple potential sources
• Residential
• Pet waste
• Failing septic systems

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Sources of E. coli

• Multiple potential sources
• Natural Conditions
• Deer
• Geese

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E. coli Source Detection

• Joan Rose, Ph.D., MSU Department of Fisheries and
  Wildlife
• Tested Coldwater River and Buck Creek Watersheds
  for fecal pollution
• Measured E. coli, Entercocci, and coliphage
• Molecular techniques

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E. coli Source Detection

• Microbial Source Tracking (MST)
• Protein
• DNA virus
• Anaerobic bacteria
• Developed human and bovine bacteroides markers
• Library dependent method

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E. coli Source Detection

• Coldwater River
• 4 sites
• 6 samples/site
• 1 sampling event/week
• 6 weeks

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E. coli Source Detection

• Bacterial analysis
• E. coli, Enterococci, coliphage
• Source tracking
• Bacteroides
• Entero esp marker
• Adenovirus
• Sediment analysis
• E. coli and Enterococci

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E. coli Source Detection
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Best Management Practices

• Agricultural
• Manure application and runoff

Filter strip - 1 mile of switch grass
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Best Management Practices

• Residential
• Pet waste

Pet waste stations 27 installed in 8 different
parks
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Best Management Practices

• Local government
• County septic system regulations
• Point of sale
• System evaluations
• Alternative systems
• Compliance with public health code

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Recommendations

• Agricultural
• Manure management plans
• Feedlot management plans
• Field tile investigations
• Livestock exclusion fencing
• Wetlands treatment
• Methane digesters

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Recommendations

• Residential
• Buffer strips
• Urban wildlife management
• Wetland restoration
• Erosion control structures

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Recommendations

• Local government
• Clean Kent Countys septic report
• Report calls on county leaders to protect public
  from sewage pollution

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What Have We Learned?

• Stream water quality
• Dry weather conditions
• 80 300 cfu/100 ml
• Wet weather
• Significant increase in E. coli concentrations

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What Have We Learned?

• Sampling
• Results vary greatly
• Communication critical
• Additional work needed to identify sources

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Costs

• Sampling
• Data Analysis
• EPA model
• MST model
• Best Management Practices
• Evaluation

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Future Activities

• Reduce routine monitoring
• Identify target areas to implement BMPs
• Alternative techniques and models
• Monitor to evaluate effectiveness
• MDEQ scheduled rotation
• Every 5-6 years

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Future Activities

• Continued education
• E. coli
• Water quality
• Land use activities
• Prevention

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Future Activities

• Projects
• Michigan Sea Grant Integrated Assessment Project
• Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds
  Initiative
• Black Creek/Lincoln Lake Improvement Project
• NPDES Phase II Storm Water Regulations

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Thank You!