1. Beach Health Monitoring with the
City or Racine Health Department
Laboratory
ERIC C. PLANTENBERG
FRESHWATER 980
PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE INTERNSHIP
UWM- SCHOOL OF FRESHWATER SCIENCES
NOVEMBER 12, 2015

2. Today we will discuss:
The Racine Health Department Laboratory
Parameters affecting beach health
Method of monitoring beach health
My projects and results
Summary of my internship and goals

3. Racine Health Department Laboratory
Publicly funded research laboratory
◦ Beach health monitoring
◦ Functions like consulting company
◦ Five local municipalities and counties
◦ WI DNR
◦ US EPA
◦ USGS
◦ Laboratory Director- Dr. Julie Kinzleman
◦ 4 fulltime lab employees
◦ 7 undergraduate and graduate inters

4. Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB)
“…a substance that indicates
the potential for human
infectious disease.” (US EPA,
2012)
•E. coli and Enterococci
•In Wisconsin:
• Advisory: FIB > 235 cfu/100 ml
• Closure: FIB > 1000 cfu/100 ml NEEAR study culture data aggregated by similar water quality and 1986
criteria data for (a) fresh water beaches and (b) marine water beaches
(US EPA, 2012)

5. Beach Health and Related Parameters
Sources of FIB:
◦ Excreted in feces of warm blooded animals.
◦ transported to local waterways
◦ Tributaries
◦ Stormwater runoff (agricultural and urban),
◦ Sewage overflows (Gannon and Busse, 1989).
◦ Nearshore sediments (Alm et al, 2003)
◦ Filamentous green algae (Byappanahalli et al, 2009)
◦ Wildlife and domesticated animals (Fogarty et al, 2003)
(Koski and Kinzelman, RHD Laboratory, 2012) Stormwater seep adjacent to Grant
Park Beach (Brunner and Kinzelman,
2014)

6. Algae and E. coli
Influence of algae
• In general, algae is positively correlated to E.
coli density.
• Potentially foster bacterial growth
• Relationship is poorly understood
• (Whiteman et al, 2003, Ishii et al, 2006)
Influence of submerged algae on beach E. coli
concentration at Grant Park, 2010-2012 (Koski
and Kinzelman, RHD Laboratory, 2012).

7. Gulls and Beach Health
•Gull feces: 3.68×108 fecal coliform bacteria per
gram (Alderisio and DeLuca, 1999).
• Geese: 1.43×104 fecal coliform bacteria per gram
•Mobilization of FIB to nearshore water results
from rain or wave action.
“Comparison of E. coli levels at the South Shore Beach
shoreline (total samples n=155). Sites 1–3: swimming beach
area; Site 4: bird roost site adjacent to beach area. Values
given are geometric means. “, (Mclellan and Salmore, 2003).

8. Enumeration of FIB-
Colilert Substrate Procedure
•Colilert reagent:
• Metabolism by coliforms → yellow-colored compound
• Metabolism by E. coli → fluorescent compound
•24 hour incubation in Idexx QuantiTrays®
•Analysis gives most probably number of CFUs per 100ml
(MPN/100ml)
(Idexx Laboratories Inc., 2009)
Idexx QuantiTrays under visible and
ultraviolet light. (United States Department
of Agriculture, 2015).

9. Enumeration of FIB-
US EPA mEI Method 1600
•Filtration through a sterile, gridded membrane
filter
• 0.45µm pore size.
•24 hour incubation on mEI agar plates (indoxyl
β-D-glucoside)
• metabolized by enterococcus bacteria → blue
compound
•Enumeration by counting colonies with blue
halo
(US EPA, 2002)
Enterococci-positive gridded membrane filter
after incubation on Enterococcus-selective,
indoxyl β-D-glucoside (mEI) agar (US EPA,
2002).

10. Enumeration of FIB-
qPCR Analysis
•Fluorescent tagging and replication of
target sequence.
• Fast- 3-4 hours
•Expensive
•Replication of non-viable cells.
•Rarely used to monitor beach health.
(Xu, 2014)

11. Beach Health Modeling Software
•Virtual Beach
• Development of “…site-specific
statistical models for the prediction of
pathogen indicator levels at
recreational beaches.” (US EPA, 2015)
•Relies on previously gathered data
•Fast
•Less accurate than sampling
The VB 2.0 Beach Location interface showing a Google Hybrid
map. (US EPA, 2010)

12. US EPA Beach Health Modeling Study
•Goal: to improve modeling
software. Data gathered from
multiple beaches.
•Grant Park Beach, South
Milwaukee, WI
• Water quality most significantly
effected by:
• waves and onshore winds
• algae
• congregating gulls
(Koski and Kinzelman, 2012)
Grant Park Beach sampling transects and features
(Racine Health Department Laboratory, 2013).

13. US EPA Beach Health Modeling Study
Methods:
Sample Collection:
◦ Historical composite
◦ GP1-GP4, at surface, 1m depth
◦ Composite
◦ GP2-GP4, at surface, 0.3m depth and 1m depth
◦ Oak Creek
◦ Field Blank
Data Collection:
◦ Conductivity, pH, weather conditions, water
temperature, wave height, bird count.

14. US EPA Beach Health Modeling Study
Methods (cont.):
Sample Analysis
◦ Measurement of turbidity.
◦ Colilert substrate procedure for E. coli
enumeration
◦ mEI incubation for Enterococci enumeration
◦ qPCR filtration and preservation
◦ DOC/UV sample preparation
◦ Retention of water sample for phage
analysis
Record Keeping
◦ Data scanned and sent to US EPA weekly.

15. WI DNR BEACH Act
•Amendment to the Federal Clean Water Act
•Requires monitoring and reporting of public beach
health
• Oversight/funding for RHD’s involvement
• Kenosha and Oak Creek
• WI DNR
• Grant through the US EPA
• (WI DNR, 2015).
•WIBeaches.us

16. WI DNR BEACH Act
Beaches:
◦ Kenosha
◦ Eichelman Park Beach,
◦ Simmons Island Park Beach
◦ Southport Park Beach
◦ Pennoyer Park Beach
◦ Alford Park Beach
◦ South Milwaukee- Grant Park Beach
◦ Oak Creek- Bender Park Beach
Methods:
◦ Water samples and data gathered 1-4 times per
week
◦ Additional data on algae, beach litter, floatable
debris, clarity.
Sampling transects at Alford, Pennoyer, and
Southport Park Beaches (clockwise from left)
(Koski and Kinzelman, 2012).

17. WI DNR BEACH Act
Methods, cont.
Sample Analysis
◦ Measurement of turbidity and
conductivity.
◦ Colilert substrate procedure for E. coli
enumeration
Record Keeping
◦ Data retained at WIBeaches.us and
laboratory database
WIBeaches.us home page showing health status of Wisconsin
beaches. (WIBeaches.us, accessed 10/2015)

18. Eichelman Park Beach, Kenosha
Water Quality
◦ Frequent Exceedances
◦ Loafing gulls near Transect EM-1
◦ deeply eroded depression adjacent to the
breakwater
(Koski and Kinzelman, 2014)
Restoration work
◦ Artificial sand dune
◦ Reduce stormwater runoff
◦ Deter gull lounging
◦ Eroded depression filled Location of sampling transects at Eichelman
park Beach, pre restoration (Koski and
Kinzelman, 2014).

19. Eichelman Park Beach, Kenosha
Year # Exceedances # Samples
%
Exceedances
Median E. coli
(MPN/100 ml)
Median Daily Gull
Count
EM-1 EM-2 EM-1 EM-2
2010 36 82 44% 264 172.5 0 0
2011 38 102 37% 158 110 30 0
2012 39 104 38% 140 132.5 23.5 0
2013 25 74 34% 120 63 2 0
2014 47 82 57% 213 275 10 45
2015 28 94 30% 140.5 85.5 20 0
Total (n),
Mean (x)
n=213 n=538 x=40% x=173 x=140 x=14 x=8
Summary of sanitary data at Eichelman Park Beach, pre- and post-restoration.

20. Eichelman Park Beach, Kenosha
Median daily log E. coli numbers and median daily gull count at transects EM-1 and EM-1 at Kenosha’s
Eichelman Park Beach from 2010-2015.

21. Simmons Island Park Beach, Kenosha
Water Quality
◦ Loafing gulls near Transects SI-4 and SI-5.
◦ Wave action transporting FIB to nearshore water
(Koski and Kinzelman, 2014)
Restoration work:
◦ Alternate grading and grooming methods
◦ Construction of artificial dune near SI-5
◦ Improvement of public access
Location of sampling transects at Simmons Island
Park Beach, pre restoration (Koski and Kinzelman,
2014).

22. Simmons Island Park Beach, Kenosha
Year
#
Exceedances # Samples % Exceedances
Median E. coli
(MPN/100 ml) Median Daily Gull Count
SI-4 SI-5 SI-4 SI-5
2010 9 33 27% 109 68.5 0 40
2011 5 31 16% 73 52 0 250
2012 6 31 19% 73 86 13 52.5
2013 9 37 24% 63 74 26 102.5
2014 9 35 26% 121 189 21 125
2015 11 89 12% 63 41 19 10
Total (n),
Mean (x)
n=49 n=256 x=21% x=84 x=85 x=13 x=97
Summary of sanitary data at Simmons Island Park Beach, pre- and post-restoration.

23. Simmons Island Park Beach, Kenosha
Median daily log E. coli numbers and median daily gull count at transects SI-4 and SI-5 at Kenosha’s
Simmons Island Park Beach from 2010-2015.

24. Samuel Myers Recreational Area Beach,
Racine
Water quality:
◦ Loafing gulls
◦ high waves, onshore winds
◦ surface runoff from nearby impermeable surfaces
(Brunner, Jozefowski, and Kinzelman, 2014)
Restoration work
◦ constructed wetland cells
◦ Surface runoff redirection
◦ Dune restoration
◦ Improve public access
Location of sampling transects Samuel Myers
Recreational Area Beach, pre restoration (Brunner,
Jozefowski, and Kinzelman, 2014).

25. Samuel Myers Recreational Area Beach,
Racine
Year # Exceedances # Samples % Exceedances
Median E. coli
(MPN/100 ml) Median Daily
Gull CountSM-W SM-E
2010 17 92 18% 73 79 0
2011 6 18 33% 216 63 0
2012 1 28 4% 10 5 0.5
2013 13 48 27% 47 77.5 32.5
2014 6 38 16% 75 86 12
2015 19 34 56% 470 253 0
Total (n),
Mean (x)
n=62 n=258 24% x=148 x=94 x=8
Summary of sanitary data at Samuel Myers Recreational Area Beach, pre- and during.

26. Samuel Myers Recreational Area Beach,
Racine
Median daily log E. coli numbers at transects SM-W and SM-E and median daily gull count at Racine’s
Samuel Myers Recreational Area Beach from 2010-2015.

27. Internship Goals
1. Gain proficiency in best practice surface water sampling techniques
2. Gain proficiency in best practice laboratory techniques for regulatory water samples
3. Gain knowledge of parameters that affect the general health of water bodies
4. Gain knowledge of restoration methods that affect beach health.
5. Establish good sampling and laboratory habits
6. Establish good habits regarding scientific record keeping
7. Take advantage of other opportunities to grow professionally
8. Utilize beach health indicator data to preliminarily determine the effect of restoration

28. References
Alderisio, K. A., & DeLuca, N. (1999). Seasonal enumeration of fecal coliform bacteria from the feces of ring-billed gulls (Larus
delawarensis) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65(12), 5628-5630.
Alm, E. W., Burke, J., & Spain, A. (2003). Fecal indicator bacteria are abundant in wet sand at freshwater beaches. Water research, 37(16),
3978-3982.
Brunner, Joel, Jozefowski, Jacob, Kinzelman, Julie. (2014). Beach Health Assessment and Recommended Best Management Practices for
Grant Park Beach. Report to City of Racine generated by the City of Racine Health Department Laboratory.
Fogarty, L. R., Haack, S. K., Wolcott, M. J., & Whitman, R. L. (2003). Abundance and characteristics of the recreational water quality
indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and enterococci in gull faeces. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 94(5), 865-878.
Gannon, J. J., & Busse, M. K. (1989). E. coli and enterococci levels in urban stormwater, river water and chlorinated treatment plant
effluent. Water Research, 23(9), 1167-1176.
Haack, S. K., Fogarty, L. R., & Wright, C. (2003). Escherichia coli and enterococci at beaches in the Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan:
sources, characteristics, and environmental pathways. Environmental science & technology, 37(15), 3275-3282.
IDEXX Laboratories, Incorporated. (2009). Colilert-18 Procedure. https://ca.idexx.com/water/products/colilert-18.html. Accessed
September 3, 2015.
Koski, Adrian, Julie Kinzelman. (2012). Grant Park Water Quality, 2010-2012. Report to the City of South Milwaukee generated by the City
of Racine Health Department Laboratory.

29. References
Koski, Adrian, Julie Kinzelman. (2012). Recreational Water Quality along Kenosha County’s Fresh Coast. Report to City of Kenosha generated by the
City of Racine Health Department Laboratory.
McLellan, S. L., & Salmore, A. K. (2003). Evidence for localized bacterial loading as the cause of chronic beach closings in a freshwater marina. Water
Research, 37(11), 2700-2708.
United States Department of Agriculture. (2015). Technology and Development at the USDA Forest Service. Retrieved September 3, 2015, from
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/programs/im/coliform/Ecoli_06.shtml
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2002). Method 1600: enterococci in water by membrane filtration using membrane-Enterococcus
indoxyl-D-glucoside agar (mEI), EPA 821/R-02/022, 2002. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water (4303T), Washington DC.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). Virtual Beach (VB). Retrieved October 10, 2015, from http://www2.epa.gov/exposure-
assessment-models/virtual-beach-vb#History US
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Recreational Water Quality Criteria. (2015, July 21). Retrieved October 10, 2015, from
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation/
Whitman, R. L., Shively, D. A., Pawlik, H., Nevers, M. B., & Byappanahalli, M. N. (2003). Occurrence of Escherichia coli and enterococci in Cladophora
(Chlorophyta) in nearshore water and beach sand of Lake Michigan. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69(8), 4714-4719.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (2015). Wisconsin Beach Health website. Retrieved October 10, 2015, from
http://www.wibeaches.us/apex/f?p=BEACH:HOME
Xu, J. (Ed.). (2014). Next-generation Sequencing: Current Technologies and Applications. Caister Academic Press.