2020 Flower Creek Water Test Up-date
Kim de Groh
March 3, 2021
Due to the Covid-19 situation, the 2020 Flower Creek testing was conducted by two organizations:
• The Great Lakes Environmental Center (GLEC) tested at 4 Flower Creek sites (FC002, FC003, FC004 & FC005) on June 10, 2020, and the same 4 sites on October 23, 2020.
o These tests were conducted after rain events
• Prof. Rick Rediske of the Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) tested site FC004 (at Roosevelt Rd) for 5 consecutive weeks (July -August) to get 30 Day geometric mean data.
o AWRI actually collected data for 6 consecutive weeks vs. 5 weeks (7/20/20 – 8/25/20) • GLEC and AWRI both collected E. coli and nutrient data, and have (or will) conduct MST analyses of high E. coli samples.
The E. coli numbers for 2020 are once again too high. On June 10, 2020, sites FC002, FC003 and FC004 had E. coli ranging from 722 to 1011 MPN*. On October 23, 2020 sites FC002, FC003 and FC004 had E. coli ranging from 328 to 689 MPN. These results are provided Table 14, copied below from GLEC’s 2020 final report.
*Most Probable Number (MPN) is equivalent to cfu/100 mls
AWRI’s E. Coli results for FC004 ranged from 569 to 2266 for testing between 7/20/2020 to 8/25/2020. The 5-week geometric mean for E. coli for Site 4 (FC004) for July 20, 2020 to August 17, 2020 is 924 cfu/100 mls. And, the 5-week geometric mean for E. coli for Site 4 (FC004) for July 27, 2020 to August 25, 2020 is 1046 cfu/100 mls. This is an order of magnitude higher than Michigan’s total body contact (TBC) 30-day geometric mean WQS of 130 E. coli per 100 mL.
GLEC has provided a 2020 Flower Creek Final Report, which is attached. It includes nutrients and MST analyses (i.e. DNA). The MST analyses provided evidence of human and bovine DNA from the June FC003 sample. The other June and October MST samples provided “non-detect” results.
AWRI has provided their E. coli and nutrient data, which is in the attached Excel spreadsheet (“FC All July-August 2020 Data_AWRI.xls”). The July-August MST samples are being analyzed.
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The good news is that the E. coli at FC005, the mouth of Flower Creek were children often play, ranged between 1 – 150 MPN for testing on June 10, 2020 and October 23, 2020 as shown in GLEC’s Table 14. The E. coli at FC005 was 23 cfu/100 mls on August 25, 2020 (the only day AWRI tested site FC005 in 2020, see the AWRI Excel spreadsheet). Thus, for the 3 dates tested in 2020, the water at the mouth of Flower Creek was found to be “clean” (i.e. less than the maximum daily geometric mean water quality standard (WQS) for Total Body Contact of 300 cfu/100 mls) even though it was contaminated up-stream on the same day.
I have shared our up to-date 2020 results with Molly Rippke (EGLE E. coli POC).
Additional Up-dates and Notes:
EGLE 2021 Targeted Monitoring Request: On February 17, 2021, I received confirmation that our EGLE 2021 Targeted Monitoring Request for Flower Creek was received and will be evaluated. We can expect to be informed of the decision regarding our request by about June 14, 2021.
Statewide E. coli TMDL Addendum: On October 7, 2020 EGLE announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approval of the 2020 Addenda to the Statewide E. coli, Mercury, and Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL). (EGLE Email copied below)
This is good news for us, as Flower Creek was added to EGLE’s 2020 TMDL Addendum (“Statewide E. coli Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Addendum –2020 Impaired Water Bodies and Percent Reductions”) which has now been approved by the EPA.
Flower Creek is listed on the “State Wide E. coli TMDL” 2020 Addendum that can be viewed from: https://egle.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2a060da30e25451292220861632b2c99 https://www.michigan.gov/egle/0,9429,7-135-3313_3681_3686_3728-376271–,00.html Direct link to the Addendum:
E. coli Pollution and Solution Mapper: EGLE provided emails in November and December 2020 stating that there have been up-dates to the State’s E. coli Pollution and Solution Mapper. (EGLE Email copied below)
Flower Creek is included in the Michigan’s E. coli Pollution and Solution Mapper resources, such as being included in the E. coli TMDL Watersheds under the map at the Monitoring and Impaired Waters tab: https://egle.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2a060da30e25451292220861632b2c99
EGLE Water Resources Division (WRD) Water Quality Request: The EGLE WRD is requesting “ambient water quality data (chemical, biological, or physical) that has been obtained by other governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, or the public for Michigan surface waters from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2020.” And they say that “All water quality data submitted to the WRD by March 19, 2021, will be evaluated and potentially used to help prepare Michigan’s 2022 Integrated Report.” (EGLE WRD email copied below)
On February 28, 2021, I sent Kelly Turek of the EGLE WRD all our 2019 and 2020 Flower Creek test data.
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EGLE Email Messages and Links
EGLE October 7, 2020 Email:
EGLE is announcing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approval of the 2020 Addenda to the Statewide E. coli, Mercury, and Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL). This is an important step for improving and protecting water quality. Additionally, please consider filling out the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Perception survey (details below).
• Statewide E. coli TMDL Addendum
• Statewide Mercury and PCB TMDL Addenda
• HABs Survey
Statewide E. coli TMDL Addendum
The Statewide E. coli TMDL was approved by the USEPA in 2019
and was designed to be expanded as new water quality data
becomes available. The 2020 Addendum contains the justification
and data summary for adding water bodies to the TMDL.
EGLE is committed to monitoring the quality of Michigan’s surface
waters and protecting public health from the pathogens
associated with E. coli. As a result of new E. coli data obtained by
EGLE and local partners, about 4,830 miles of rivers were added
to the TMDL. Additionally, about 560 miles were determined to
be meeting the Total Body Contact recreation standards and one
TMDL beach was restored.
EGLE’s responses to public comments and the 2020 Addendum to the Statewide E. coli TMDL are available at Michigan.gov/EcoliTMDL. The E. coli Pollution and Solution interactive mapper will be updated later in October to reflect this approval.
Contact: Molly Rippke (517-342-4419)
EGLE November 4, 2020 Email:
Updates to the E. coli Pollution and Solution Mapper
Several layers in Michigan’s E. coli Pollution and Solution Mapper have been updated in order to provide the most up-to-date information. The interactive mapper supports the Statewide E. coli TMDL by providing access to E. coli monitoring results, locations of impaired waters, and information about the potential sources and solutions to bacterial pollution. The below updated information can be accessed in the Mapper tab and in the Solutions subject tab:
• Approved TMDL watersheds have been updated to include the newly approved 2020 Addendum to the Statewide E. coli TMDL. These watersheds define the areas used for implementation of the TMDLs in permits and nonpoint source programs.
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• The number of Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program verifications have been updated and are now available at the township level (previously the data were county level). • The approved Watershed Management Plan (WMP) layer has been updated to reflect the approval of the Upper Pine and Little Manistee WMPs.
Contact: Molly Rippke (517-342-4419)
EGLE December 16, 2020 Email:
2020 E. coli results have been added to the Pollution and Solution Mapper
The River E. coli Monitoring Sites layer on
the Michigan’s E. coli Pollution and Solution
Mapper has been updated in order to provide
important public health information. E. coli monitoring
results collected by EGLE in 2020 have been added and are represented as yellow stars, while historic sites are
represented by white circles. Data summaries can be
viewed by clicking on the site. Complete results are
available upon request.
These results will be considered in the 2022 Clean
Water Act Sections 303(d) and 305(b) reporting. Areas of focus in 2020 included portions of the Shiawassee, Pere
Marquette, St. Joseph, Wiscoggin, Quanicassee,
Escanaba, White, and Chippewa Rivers, and tributaries to Lakes Charlevoix and Erie.
The interactive mapper supports the Statewide E. coli TMDL by providing access to E. coli monitoring results, locations of impaired waters, and information about the potential sources and solutions to bacterial pollution.
Contact: Molly Rippke (517-342-4419)
EGLE February 12, 2021 Email:
Request for Ambient Water Quality Data for Michigan’s Surface Waters
The Water Resources Division (WRD) is requesting ambient water
quality data (chemical, biological, or physical) that has been obtained
by other governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, or
the public for Michigan surface waters from January 1, 2019, through
December 31, 2020. All water quality data submitted to the WRD by
March 19, 2021, will be evaluated and potentially used to help
prepare Michigan’s 2022 Integrated Report.
The WRD prepares and submits a biennial report to the United States
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Environmental Protection Agency to satisfy the listing requirements of Section 303(d) and reporting requirements of Sections 305(b) and 314 of the federal Clean Water Act. The Integrated Report describes the status of water quality in Michigan and includes a list of water bodies that are not attaining Michigan Water Quality Standards. Additional guidance on preferred data sets may be found by going to the Integrated Report Web site.
All ambient water quality data (including associated quality assurance/quality control information) for Michigan surface waters may be sent to Kelly Turek (TurekK@Michigan.gov, 517-930-0096), Lakes Erie, Huron, and Superior Unit, Surface Water Assessment Section, Water Resources Division, at Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7958. If submitting ambient water quality data from a secondary location (e.g., WQX) please provide details to Ms. Turek.
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