Project Number: 3625-13000-008-02
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Apr 16, 2004
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
(1) Understand the dynamics of bacterial pathogen populations in manure, soil, and water and to assess the risks and benefits associated with various manure management and conservation practices, (2) Understand the spread of the pathogenic and indicator bacteria in agricultural watersheds, and (3) Evaluate the risk to downstream recreational sites.

Approach:
(1) Extend our current monitoring of soils, stream water and tile-drainage water for populations of indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, (2) Determine the population of toxigenic E. coli, such as 0157:H7, Salmonella and Campylobacter and relate those populations to the indicator bacteria (E. coli and Enterococcus) populations in manure, freshly manured soils, and stream water and, (3) Determine the survival of these pathogenic bacteria in stream sediments and waters. This knowledge will allow more effective targeting of changes to the production system to improve water quality.

Project Team

Moorman, Thomas - Tom Tomer, Mark

Related National Programs

Water Quality & Management (201)