OHHI Beach Modeling Group Meeting March 23, 2006 GLERL, Ann Arbor, MI Project Summary Project Title: Predicting Pathogen Fate in the Great Lakes Coastal Environment OHHI Program (within Centers of Excellence, identify the program/division/core): External Grants Program Principal and Associate Investigator(s) and Organization(s): Sandra L. McLellanUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER Institute J. Val KlumpUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER Institute Hector R. BravoUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanics Mark BorchartMarshfield Clinic Research Foundation Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Funding Amount and Period: Total costs: 694, to

Objectives: A bulleted list of major objectives. For NOAA PIs, please indicate the NOAA operational services to be enhanced by these objectives. 1. Determine the biological survival and physical transport processes that control the dispersion and persistence of episodically introduced, waterborne pathogens in a river plume/open lake ecosystem. 2. Develop a coupled biological and physical model to improve current and future predictions of pathogen fate in the Great Lakes coastal environment and examine the potential impact on pathogen distribution and persistence of recent and predicted ecological shifts in the Great Lakes. This project has a strong focus on dissemination of the findings to a broad audience. The most critical element in effective management of our coastal resources is scientific based decision-making. Our goal is to convey scientific findings to water resource managers, public health officials, and the general public in a useful and meaningful manner.

Figure 1: Discharge of polluted river water into the Milwaukee Harbor (1980 photo) Lower right panel represents the Milwaukee Harbor Fate and Transport Hydrodynamic Model developed by Hydroqual, Inc. (funded by a grant from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District), which will serve as a frame work to develop a pathogen model and address physical, chemical, and biological interactions of pathogens introduced into freshwater systems.

March 23, 2006 Update Summary of completed activities  Collection of sample data in September 2005during a three-day combined sewer overflow event.  Existing “Milwaukee Harbor Estuary Modeling Source, Transport and Fate Study” completed by HydroQual and funded by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.  A graduate research assistant was hired and started in January  Acquisition of a Sequoia LISST sediment size distribution, concentration and settling velocity sensor.  Acquisition of the bathymetry of Lake Michigan and Map of the Milwaukee Harbor, sketched below in Figures 2 and 3.

Summary of planned activities  Analysis of samples collected in September 2005 for fecal coliform indicators, and analysis of extracted DNA for genetic markers of key bacterial species.  Use of the MMSD-funded computational model and the September 2005 data to estimate dilution and die off rate for the organisms analyzed, and to refine the sampling strategy for particle studies and viral analysis.  Development of a POM-based computational model with a hydrodynamic component and components for the transport of free- floating pathogens and particle-attached pathogens.  Gathering of data for model setup: coastline, Milwaukee River Estuary flows, surface wind, temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, humidity, etc.  Gathering of additional data for model setup and calibration: specific conductivity, total suspended solids and turbidity,  Continued collaboration between Dr. McLellan, Dr. Borchart and S. Corsi at USGS to design flow-though filtering and automated sampling devices to collect samples at the main discharge point of the Milwaukee River Basin, sketched in Figure 4. The biological contaminates captured by integrated sampling and hydrograph data will be key parameters needed to estimate pathogens loads entering Lake Michigan.  Definition of 2006 sampling strategy: a) Estimation of pathogens discharged through the “channel”, b) number (up to 50 samples per event feasible) and location of sampling sites in the harbor and near shore (at the north, central (Figure 5) and south break wall openings, off South Shore Park, depth 15 m, off Linwood Plant, depth 15 m), c) timing of sample collection (storm events > 0.75 in of rain?), d) size of water samples (100 liters?), e) selection of particle size ranges for measurements (0.2  m, 0.45  m, 10  m, 25  m, 100  m, 200  m, 500  m?).

Figure 2. GIS map of the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary.

Figure 3. Close-up of the GIS map of the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary.

Figure 4. Channel that connects the Milwaukee Inner and Outer Harbors.

Figure 5. Central opening in the Milwaukee Harbor break wall.