Snake River Microbial Source Tracking Study

This contract is a component of larger project (Snake River E.coli Microbial Source Tracking Study – Cycle II) in the Snake River Watershed located in the St. Croix river basin. The study will address microbial water quality impairments in the watershed. This study will conduct fecal bacteria source tracking using genetic markers across impaired streams in the watershed during the spring and summer months of 2021.

Assessment data indicates that concentrations of E.coli are enough to exceed state standards at 14 stream segments, but do not point to the potential sources. This contract is with the University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water, and Climate laboratory. The lab will perform quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) analysis for 28 samples over the summer of 2021 to determine the sources of E.coli in the river (e.g. pig, human, bovine, water fowl).