The Department of Environmental Quality and the United States Geological Survey are collaborating to identify sources of elevated E. coli concentrations in the water at the Macomb County Metro Beach Metropark and St. Clair Shores Memorial Beach on Lake St. Clair. The 15-month study, funded with $118,000 from DEQ and $51,000 from the USGS, will identify possible sources of E. coli and determine the environmental factors that contribute to variations in E. coli concentrations.

“In spite of aggressive efforts to correct illicit connections, failing septic systems, and to prevent sewer system overflows, we continue to see E. coli levels that result in closing of local beaches,” said Ken DeBeaussaert, Director of the Office of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair Coordinator. “The ultimate goal of this work is to enable these beaches to remain open, while ensuring that the public health is protected.”

The project could be the basis for developing a better predictive model for beach conditions. The data will be used by the DEQ to help develop mitigation efforts by the state and local units of government.

Memorial and Metropark beaches are routinely monitored for E. coli by the Macomb County Health Department and both periodically exceed the water quality standards for E. coli, resulting in beach closures. Results of E. coli monitoring for the Memorial and Metropark beaches, as well as monitoring results and beach closure information for other Michigan beaches, can be found on the DEQ’s Beach Water Monitoring Web site at: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/beach.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”