MANITOWOC COUNTY BEACH ISSUES  Bacteria forcing closures  Algae problems Manitowoc County Soil & Water Conservation Department Grant funding provided by:

Water quality is monitored for beach closings based on E Coli samples West L. Michigan Beaches 9/9/03

Site8/27 & 8/28/03 (CFU/100ml) 9/13/03 (CFU/100 ml) 9/22/03 (CFU/100 ml) Point Beach 1 (lighthouse) > 2,400, Point Beach 2 (pumphouse) >2,400, Point Beach 3 (lodge) >2,400, Neshota Beach 265, Manitowoc Harbor Red Arrow>2, Fischer Creek Fischer Beach>2, E. Coli count data for rain events by site and date

Hika Bay - Cleveland

Fischer Creek

Point Beach oRelatively Low Algae oExperiences Beach Closures and Advisories

Sources: People Agriculture Wildlife

Coastal Zone Management Grant  Form a Task Force to identify and recommend actions for identification of bacteria sources.  Coordinate with multiple parties data collection that will assist in resolution of problem sources of bacteria.

Figure A-6: E. coli survey on June 12, Heavy rain (1.75 inches in 24 hours); CSO within 48 hours; wind from west-southwest. E. coli counts (CFU/100 ml)

Gull isolates on LB plate with Ampicillin (20  g/ml) Sewage isolates on LB plate with Ampicillin (20  g/ml) Stormwater isolates on LB plate with Ampicillin (20  g/ml) Antibiotic Resistance Testing was chosen to be Conducted August ‘03

Next Steps  Dairy manure collections for AR COMPLETED  Identify beach specific investigation strategies Spatial survey of E coli occurrence COMPLETED Map outfalls COMPLETED Bacteriodes-Prevotella PCR (DNA test) ? ONGOING- UW Milwaukee Water Institute

74 Manure samples from 45 Farms

Antibiotic Resistance Frequency of Manitowoc Beaches and Host Samples

Continuing Issues  Is there a link between E coli and algae? Manitowoc - Cleveland - Sheboygan  Is E coli a good and valid indicator?  Does wave action stirring up E coli off the bottom = beach closures  Individual beach Investigations Red Arrow, Neshota, Fischer Cr – outfall influences? Point Beach – Why the AR bacteria?

Red Arrow  Health Department Samples  “Spacial Survey” E coli Includes samples at stormwater ponds near Wal-Mart  Bacteriodes PCR beach and mouth of river  E coli in sand  Variables = outfall, sand medium, near shore current, wave action, river influence, parking lots, gulls, WWTP

YMCA Beach  Health Department Samples  “Spacial Survey” E coli  City Gull Harrassment Process

Gulls were encouraged to move

Fischer Creek Beach  Health Department Samples ’03,’04  “Spacial Survey” E coli ‘04  Bacteriodes PCR DNA test- beach and mouth of river

Point Beach  Health Department Samples  “Spacial Survey” E coli  Issues:potential human vs livestock influence on closings  Gulls

Rain on 8/22/04 E-NE Wind 4-5 Ft Waves Strong Longshore current Lots of Suspended Sand/soil 9600 col/100 mg in a dug hole

Suspect – Bacteria in the Sand

Neshota Beach  Health Department Samples  “Spacial Survey” E coli  Bacteriodes PCR beach and mouth of river  E coli in sand - Inconclusive  Beach issues:Gulls, restricted beach grooming, river influence, stormwater outfalls, sand and wave influence

Vision Forward How do We Use What We Learned: 1. Recreation Management 2. Beach Management 3. Bacteria Abatement 4. Public Relations 5. Public Policy

Recreation Management  Predict Advisories  Planning Events

Beach Management  Algae Management Can the beach be cleaned? Can the algae be managed?  Avian Management Is your beach gull habitat? Are birds attracted by feeding?  Grooming vs. Nongrooming Clean smooth grooming vs aerated and rough

Public Policies  Ordinances Controlling Sources Septage, bird feeding, animal waste runoff, Urban runoff  Urban Nonpoint Education  E coli standard for closure 235 colonies / 100ml 1000 colonies / 100 ml

Public Relations  Focus on healthier sites  Understanding of risks and making personal choices  Non-science understanding of the issues and risks

Bacteria Abatement  Wetland construction to treat E coli?  Stormwater / sanitary infrastructure  Nonpoint pollution sources from urban and rural Pet waste Parking lots Rural livestock Domestic sewage

What do we know now?  Bacteria is not likely blowing in from the lake  Gulls are a part of the mix at Neshotah and Pt Beach  Dairy livestock – probably not the cause  Suspect bacteria is rinsing out of beach sand during rain or wave events

What do we know now?  Landscape runoff is likely a major contributing factor – Urban Stormwater, Rural Stormwater  Still some hints of human Point Beach

Manitowoc County Discovery Farm Projects & Research  New tilling approaches which reduce non-point runoff from fields planted to row crops, such as corn and soybeans.  The impact of liquid manure applications on tiled fields with heavy clay content.  Buffer effectiveness.  Collaboration with other agencies that may aid in determining causes of Lake Michigan beach closings and excessive algae.

Remember, our beaches are much cleaner than what our parents swam in!