1. Clean Ocean Action and Environmental Canine Services
A Source Tracking Partnership
Zach Lees, Policy Attorney, Clean Ocean Action

2. Why are we here again?
In January of 2016, NJDEP finalized the downgrading of 565 acres of shellfishing area to prohibited.
This downgrade indicates that water quality is deteriorating in the Navesink River.
Ecosystem Health
NJDEP considers shellfish water classifications to be primary indicator of the State’s coastal waters health
Fisheries Health
Healthy ecosystem, healthy fisheries
Human Health
Swimming, wading, paddling, boating, etc
Consumption of shellfish

6. Today, the ONLY direct harvest shellfish areas left in the entire New York/New Jersey Estuary, are the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers.

7. What is Source Tracking
Microbial Source Tracking (MST) is a set of methods used to determine the sources contributing to fecal pollution in a given waterbody. 
Most methods can only determine presence or absence of indicator ie human, domestic animal, or wildlife.
It is very hard to quantify the relative abundance of each potential source.

8. Our Toolbox
By using multiple types of source tracking methods, we can strengthen our conclusions, and find the right tool for the right job.

9. COA Ship and Sniff
Eight water samples were collected by Clean Ocean Action on June 8, 2016, and shipped, using a quality control protocol to ECS headquarters in Otisfield, ME.
The samples were scent tested on June 13 by two canine/handler teams, Scott Reynolds and canine Sable and Karen Reynolds and canine Logan.

12. Rutgers School of Engineering qPCR Analysis

13. Rutgers School of Engineering

14. Rain Event!

15. Rutgers School of Engineering

16. NJDEP Storm Event Testing
June 5th Storm Event
July 7th Flood Tide Study
July 18th Storm Event
September 19 HUGE RAIN EVENT…

20. Thank You! NJDEP Borough of Red Bank Public Works
Borough of Fair Haven Public Works
Middletown Public Works
Monmouth County Health Department
Rutgers School of Engineering
Environmental Canine Services
Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority