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Quantitative Microbial Source Tracking in the Tillamook Basin
Citation:
Li, X., Mano Sivaganesan, C. Kelty, A. Zimmer-Faust, Pat Clinton, J. Reichman, Y. Johnson, W. Matthews, S. Bailey, AND O. Shanks. Quantitative Microbial Source Tracking in the Tillamook Basin. Oregon Dept of Environmental Quality Thirsty for Knowledge Seminar Series, Portland,OR, January 18, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
Rivers in the Tillamook Basin play a vital role in supporting a thriving dairy industry, as well as providing a safe water resource for local human and wildlife populations. Unfortunately, fecal pollution in these waters are at times too high to allow for safe use leading to economic loss and poor conditions. In partnership with EPA Region 10, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Tillamook Estuaries Program, we report the implementation of quantitative genetic methods for human, ruminant, cattle, canine, and avian fecal pollution characterization combined with high-resolution geographic information system (GIS) land use data and general indicator bacteria measurements to elucidate water quality spatial and temporal trends in the study area. Results demonstrate clear advantages of combining genetic methods and GIS mapping strategies with general fecal indicator bacteria water quality monitoring data to better characterize sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters. This effort will serve as a blueprint for the application of genetic host-associated technologies in local communities dealing with chronic fecal pollution challenges across the country. Research was conducted under the EPA Research Action Plan, SSWR project 3.02.
Description:
Rivers in the Tillamook Basin play a vital role in supporting a thriving dairy industry, as well as providing a safe water resource for local human and wildlife populations. Unfortunately, fecal pollution in these waters are at times too high to allow for safe use leading to economic loss and poor conditions. In partnership with EPA Region 10, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Tillamook Estuaries Program, we report the implementation of quantitative genetic methods for human, ruminant, cattle, canine, and avian fecal pollution characterization combined with high-resolution geographic information system (GIS) land use data and general indicator bacteria measurements to elucidate water quality spatial and temporal trends in the study area. Results demonstrate clear advantages of combining genetic methods and GIS mapping strategies with general fecal indicator bacteria water quality monitoring data to better characterize sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters. This effort will serve as a blueprint for the application of genetic host-associated technologies in local communities dealing with chronic fecal pollution challenges across the country. Research was conducted under the EPA Research Action Plan, SSWR project 3.02.