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OWML Publications

Filter Total Items: 42

Using microbial source tracking to identify contamination sources in Port Jefferson Harbor, Setauket Harbor, and Conscience Bay on Long Island, New York

The U.S. Geological Survey worked in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to assess the potential sources of fecal contamination entering Port Jefferson Harbor, Setauket Harbor, and Conscience Bay, an embayment complex on the northern shore of Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Water samples are routinely collected by the New York State Department of Env
Authors
Tristen N. Tagliaferri, Shawn C. Fisher, Christopher M. Kephart, Natalie Cheung, Ariel P. Reed, Robert J. Welk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory, USGS Science in Long Island Sound and its Watershed

Understanding sources and distribution of Escherichia coli at Lake St. Clair Metropark Beach, Macomb County, Michigan

Lake St. Clair Metropark Beach (LSCMB) in Michigan is a public beach near the mouth of the Clinton River that has a history of beach closures for public health concerns. The Clinton River is designated as a Great Lakes Area of Concern, and the park has a Beneficial Use Impairment for beach closings because of elevated Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooper
Authors
Lisa R. Fogarty, Jessica A. Maurer, Ian M. Hyslop, Alexander R. Totten, Christopher M. Kephart, Angela K. Brennan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase gene, and cyanotoxin occurrence among selected large river sites of the conterminous United States, 2017–18

The U.S. Geological Survey measured cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase genes, and cyanotoxins at 11 river sites throughout the conterminous United States in a multiyear pilot study during 2017–19 through the National Water Quality Assessment Project to better understand the occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in large inland and coastal rivers. This report focuses on the first 2 years of
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Jennifer L. Graham, Erin A. Stelzer, Keith A. Loftin, Barry H. Rosen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Using microbial source tracking to identify fecal contamination sources in an embayment in Hempstead Harbor on Long Island, New York

The U.S. Geological Survey worked collaboratively with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to assess the potential sources of fecal contamination entering Hempstead Harbor, an embayment on the northern shore of Nassau County, Long Island, New York. Water samples are routinely collected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the harbor and analyzed

Authors
Tristen N. Tagliaferri, Shawn C. Fisher, Christopher M. Kephart, Natalie Cheung, Ariel P. Reed, Robert J. Welk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory, USGS Science in Long Island Sound and its Watershed

Evaluation of a modified rapid viability-polymerase chain reaction method for Bacillus atrophaeus spores in water matrices

A rapid method that provides information on the viability of organisms is needed to protect public health and ensure that remediation efforts following a release of a biological agent are effective. The rapid viability-polymerase chain reaction (RV-PCR) method combines broth culture and molecular methods to provide results on whether viable organisms are present in less than 15 h. In this study, a
Authors
Rebecca N. Bushon, Amie M.G. Brady, Christopher M. Kephart, Vicente Gallardo
By
Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Overview and methodology for a study to identify fecal contamination sources using microbial source tracking in seven embayments on Long Island, New York

Between June 2018 and July 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey collaborated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to analyze water quality in seven embayments on Long Island, New York, for a study to examine fecal contamination using microbial source tracking. This report documents the approach, methodology, and quality-assurance data used in the study. All samples and fiel
Authors
Tristen N. Tagliaferri, Shawn C. Fisher, Christopher M. Kephart, Natalie Cheung, Ariel P. Reed, Robert J. Welk
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Cyanotoxin mixture models: Relating environmental variables and toxin co-occurrence to human exposure risk

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms, often containing multiple toxins, are a serious public health issue. However, there are no known models that predict a cyanotoxin mixture (anatoxin-a, microcystin, saxitoxin). This paper presents two cyanotoxin mixture models (MIX) and compares them to two microcystin (MC) models from data collected in 2016–2017 from three recurring cyanobacterial bloom locations in Ka

Authors
Victoria Christensen, Erin A. Stelzer, Barbara C. Scudder Eikenberry, Hayley T. Olds, Jaime F. LeDuc, Ryan P. Maki, Jack E. Norland, Eakalak Khan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Assessment of water quality and fecal contamination sources at Hook Pond, East Hampton, New York

SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Village of East Hampton, New York, conducted a 1-year study from August 2017 to August 2018 to provide data necessary to improve understanding of the sources of nutrients and pathogens to Hook Pond watershed to allow for possible mitigation or reduction of loads. Chronic eutrophication and recent concern over harmful cyanobacteria in Hook

Authors
Shawn C. Fisher, Brendan A. McCarthy, Christopher M. Kephart, Dale W. Griffin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Predicting microcystin concentration action-level exceedances resulting from cyanobacterial blooms in selected lake sites in Ohio

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms and the toxins they produce are a global water-quality problem. Monitoring and prediction tools are needed to quickly predict cyanotoxin action-level exceedances in recreational and drinking waters used by the public. To address this need, data were collected at eight locations in Ohio, USA, to identify factors significantly related to observed concentrations of
Authors
Donna S. Francy, Amie M.G. Brady, Erin A. Stelzer, Jessica R. Cicale, Courtney Paige Hackney, Harrison D Dalby, Pamela Struffolino, Daryl F. Dwyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Nowcasting methods for determining microbiological water quality at recreational beaches and drinking-water source waters

Nowcasts are tools used to provide timely and accurate water-quality assessments of threats to drinking-water and recreational resources from fecal contamination or cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. They use mathematical models and techniques to provide near-real-time estimates of fecal-indicator bacteria (FIB) and cyanotoxin concentrations. Techniques include logic-based thresholds, decision t
Authors
Donna S. Francy, Amie M.G. Brady, Jessica R. Cicale, Harrison D Dalby, Erin A. Stelzer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Pilot-scale testing of dairy manure treatments to reduce nutrient transport from land application, northwest Ohio, 2015–17

Manure and wastewater from large livestock operations have the potential to negatively affect surface water and groundwater, including the eutrophication of surface waters and harmful algal blooms. In the Western Lake Erie Basin, where there is a high density of animal agriculture, harmful algal blooms have been attributed, in part, to phosphorus loading from dairy manure and fertilizer applicatio
Authors
Donna S. Francy, Amie M.G. Brady, Bethany L. Ash, W. Robert Midden
By
Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Cyanotoxin occurrence in large rivers of the United States

Cyanotoxins occur in rivers worldwide but are understudied in lotic ecosystems relative to lakes and reservoirs. Eleven large river sites located throughout the United States were sampled during June–September 2017 to determine the occurrence of cyanobacteria with known cyanotoxin-producing strains, cyanotoxin synthetase genes, and cyanotoxins. Chlorophyll-a concentrations spanned the range from o

Authors
Jennifer L. Graham, Neil Dubrovsky, Guy Foster, Lindsey R. King, Keith Loftin, Barry Rosen, Erin Stelzer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory