Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

E. coli; Modeling; Pathogen; Swimming beach

Abstract

"Public swimming beaches at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park (LOSP) are popular vacationing spots for many Missourians; however, on several occasions Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations have exceeded standards set by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Exceedances lead to beach closures which not only represent a potential public health threat but are also detrimental to the local economy and the public's perception of the lake's general water quality. In a collaborative effort between Missouri S&T, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the MDNR, an in-depth, two-summer study was conducted which included collection of over 1,300 water and sediment samples at 36 locations, sediment resuspension, runoff analysis and microbial source tracking (MST) studies.

Coupling spatial, temporal and microbial source tracking studies, predominant sources of E. coli contamination at Lake of the Ozarks State Park identified during this study were the fecal contamination from waterfowl harbored in beach sediments and from tributary inflow. Once concentrated in sediments, E. coli are likely suspended into the water column by bathers and slowly decay and potentially advect out of Grand Glaize Beach Cove. Modifications to beach and waterfowl management along with routine lake-wide sampling will likely alleviate E. coli contamination at Grand Glaize Beach and improve public perception of general lake quality"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Burken, Joel G. (Joel Gerard)

Committee Member(s)

Schumacher, John G.
Anwar, Shadab

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Environmental Engineering

Sponsor(s)

Geological Survey (U.S.)
Missouri. Department of Natural Resources
Missouri University of Science and Technology Chancellor's Fellowship

Comments

"The body of this thesis has been prepared in the style used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), in anticipation of publication as a U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report."

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2013

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

Occurrence and Origin of Escherichia coli at Two Swimming Beaches in Lake of the Ozarks State Park, 2011-2013

Pagination

xiv, 144 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references.

Geographic Coverage

Missouri
Ozarks, Lake of the

Rights

© 2013 Jordan Lee Wilson, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Escherichia coli -- Missouri -- Ozarks, Lake of theWater -- Sampling -- Missouri -- Ozarks, Lake of theEnvironmental testing -- Computer simulationWaterfowl -- Feces -- Missouri -- Ozarks, Lake of theRunoff -- Missouri -- Ozarks, Lake of theRunoff -- TestingWaterfowl -- Feces -- Environmental aspects

Thesis Number

T 10636

Electronic OCLC #

912422144

Download

Share

 
COinS