U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
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AbstractA synoptic study of fecal-indicator bacteria was conducted during
June and July 2000 in the Wind River, Bighorn River, and Goose Creek Basins in
Wyoming as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality
Assessment Program for the Yellowstone River Basin. Fecal-coliform
concentrations ranged from 2 to
3,000 col/100 mL (colonies per 100 milliliters) for 100 samples, and Escherichia
coli concentrations ranged from 1 to 2,800 col/100 mL for 97 samples. Fecal-coliform
concentrations exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended
limit for a single sample for recreational contact with water in 37.0 percent of
the samples. Escherichia coli concentrations exceeded the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit for a single sample for
moderate use, full-body recreational contact with water in 38.1 percent of
the samples and the recommended limit for infrequent use, full-body recreational
contact with water in 24.7 percent of the samples.
Fecal-indicator-bacteria concentrations varied by basin. Samples from the Bighorn River Basin had the highest median concentrations for fecal coliform of 340 col/100 mL and for Escherichia coli of 300 col/100 mL. Samples from the Wind River Basin had the lowest median concentrations for fecal coliform of 50 col/100 mL and for Escherichia coli of 62 col/100 mL.
Fecal-indicator-bacteria concentrations varied by land cover. Samples from sites with an urban land cover had the highest median concentrations for fecal coliform of 540 col/100 mL and for Escherichia coli of 420 col/100 mL. Maximum concentrations for fecal coliform of 3,000 col/100 mL and for Escherichia coli of 2,800 col/100 mL were in samples from sites with an agricultural land cover. The lowest median concentrations for fecal coliform of 130 col/100 mL and for Escherichia coli of 67 col/100 mL were for samples from sites with a forested land cover.
A strong and positive relation existed between fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (Spearman's Rho value of 0.976). The majority of the fecal coliforms were Escherichia coli during the synoptic study. Fecal-indicator-bacteria concentrations were not correlated to streamflow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conduc-tance, and alkalinity. Fecal-indicator-bacteria concentrations were moderately correlated with turbidity (Spearman's Rho values of 0.662 and 0.640 for fecal coliform and Escherichia coli, respectively) and sediment (Spearman's Rho values of 0.628 and 0.636 for fecal coliform and Escherichia coli, respectively).
Escherichia coli isolates analyzed by discriminant analysis of ribotype patterns for samples from the Bighorn River at Basin, Wyoming, and Bitter Creek near Garland, Wyoming, in the Bighorn River Basin were determined to be from nonhuman and human sources. Using a confidence interval of 90 percent, more of the isolates from both sites were classified as being from nonhuman than human sources; however, both samples had additional isolates that were classified as unknown sources.
Abstract
Introduction
Background
Purpose and scope
Acknowledgments
Environmental setting
Sampling sites and methods
Field measurements and sample collection
Data analysis
Microbial source tracking
Synoptic-study results
Sampling conditions
Quality-control samples
Distribution of fecal-indicator bacteria by basin
Wind River Basin
Bighorn River Basin
Goose Creek Basin
Distribution of fecal-indicator bacteria by land cover
Relation of Escherichia coli to fecal coliform
Relation of fecal-indicator bacterial to water-quality characteristics
Microbial source tracking
Summary
References
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