Beach Management Meets Genomics
Our research focuses on understanding the genomic basis and adaptive traits of E. coli that can survive and even grow in the sand, which severely confounds monitoring efforts since many agencies still use this organism as a water quality indicator at beaches. We are currently taking a population genomics approach, using our extensive repository of isolates and performing beach microcosm experiments to select for E. coli that are “the last ones standing” for metagenomic and functional studies. This work is in collaboration with Seth Walk (University of Montana) and Elizabeth Alm (Central Michigan University).
Our work has been supported by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Program.
Bridging the Research and Policy Gap to Improve Urban Beach Ecosystem Health
For more than a decade, the McLellan lab has gathered data from South Shore Beach, an urban neighborhood beach that faces a many advisories and closures each year due to high levels of fecal indicator bacteria, specifically E. coli, in the water. Our data suggests that localized non-point pollution generates the most significant contamination leading to beach closures. The situation is likely exacerbated by limited water circulation resulting from the beach’s adjacent location to a breakwall and boating infrastructure. Other potential sources of urban water pollution, including sewer systems and overflows, do not appear to be as significant to South Shore Beach water quality.
While understanding of the extent and causes of beach contamination has grown, this data alone will not lead to beach improvements. An increased understanding of the economic impact of beach quality, and a framework for integrating scientific understanding into policy-making, can help facilitate decision-making regarding whether and how to invest in urban Great Lakes beaches. Our current research takes an interdisciplinary look at outstanding challenges and questions at South Shore Beach, including filling gaps in scientific data, completing an economic impact study, and working with stakeholders to develop a policy-making framework.
Development and Application of Molecular-Based Methods for Identifying Sources of Fecal Pollution at Lake Michigan Beaches.
Beach closings in the Great Lakes Region have attracted the attention of public health officials, regulatory agencies, water resource managers, and state legislators. High levels of the fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) have been found in the shallow waters of beaches. Previous work in our laboratory has demonstrated that the majority of the contamination originates from the shoreline. The focus of this work is to develop and validate genetic markers for human and non-human sources of fecal pollution, and integrate these measures into hydrodynamic models of the beach area.
Bradford Beach Revitalization Project. In collaboration with Miller-Coors, Milwaukee County Parks and Public Works, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and other agencies, our laboratory is assessing the effectiveness of different best management practices as they are implemented at Bradford Beach. The overall goal of this project is to improve the beach ecosystem and obtain a Blue Wave Certification.