Kettle Creek/ Lake Erie task Force water quality summary report

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Authors

McMaster, Lori

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Volume Title

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Kettle Creek Conservation Authority

Abstract

This water quality study was initiated by the Kettle Creek / Lake Erie Task Force. The study was established to meet one major goal - to investigate possible bacterial contributors from Kettle Creek to the Port Stanley beaches. Storm Events were monitored during the summer of 1995 for bacterial contributors. The Kettle Creek / Lake Erie Task Force approved three bacterial indicators for the water quality study, Escherichia Coliform (E. coli), Faecal Streptococci, and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. E. coli is the primary bacterial indicator used by the Ministry of Health to monitor public beaches because it is most directly related to faecal pollution. Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms are primarily related to human sewage. The water quality results showed elevated bacterial loadings to Kettle Creek during storm events. The loadings indicated various possible contributors to Kettle Creek including, harbour dredging, waste from boats, seagulls, livestock farms, faulty septic systems, and the City of St. Thomas. The study revealed that further beach water quality investigations are needed in order to determine if there is a correlation between Kettle Creek water quality and Port Stanley beach postings. In August, the Main beach at Port Stanley was posted for the majority of the month. However, during the summer very limited rainfall occurred to produced elevated bacterial levels in Kettle Creek. Base flow water sampling showed lower E. coli counts within the harbour while the Ministry of Health samples showed higher E. coli counts at Main beach. This indicates that other unknown bacterial inputs may be affecting beach postings at Port Stanley beaches. The lack of correlation is further demonstrated by the actual beach postings that occurred in 1995. The Main, Little, and Erie Rest beaches were posted for 30, 7, and 20 days, respectively. The lattoral drift at Port Stanley is from East to West. However, Little beach which is located West of the harbour was posted the least. Again, this indicates that other factors may be coming into play.

Description

Federal Documents & Miscellaneous Reports

Keywords

water quality, water sampling, bacterial indicators, base flow, storm event

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