Pollution Source Tracking

The source tracking toolbox: Keri Kaczor, UMaine Cooperative Extension/Maine Healthy Beaches; Fred Dillon, City of South Portland; John Bucci, University of New Hampshire; and Emily DiFranco, FB Environmental Associates
Keri Kaczor’s Presentation (17 MB PDF)
Fred Dillon’s Presentation (4 MB PDF)
John Bucci’s Presentation (10 MB PDF)
Emily DiFranco’s Presentation (11 MB PDF)
Tourism is an integral component of the Maine economy and spending related to beaches is estimated to be over $500 million annually. Elevated fecal bacteria levels impair coastal waters and may post a human health risk. Rivers, streams and storm drains transport pollutants from upland areas to the shoreline. Identification and remediation of harmful bacteria sources often requires enhanced monitoring and in-depth studies beyond the immediate shoreline area. The “Pollution Source Tracking Toolbox” includes successful and innovative tools to identify pollution sources impacting valued coastal beaches, from Maine Healthy Beaches strategies to address sources of bacterial pollution, to the City of South Portland bacteria and optical brightener study of the storm drainage network, to genetic and molecular techniques allowing differentiation of pollution sources at the species level, to sewage-sniffing dogs.

Session Notes (PDF)