Name:   ALlakelover - Subject:   E. coli Date:   11/3/2021 7:14:13 PM (updated 11/3/2021 7:15:54 PM)

The numbers were above 600 E. coli per 100 mililiters of water at 2 locations above Hwy 280 bridge - in the Baker's Bottom area, and downstream about 100 yards above the Coley Creek confluence with the river. They occured shortly after Tropical Storm Ida passed through our area, dumping ~ 3 inches of rain in the watershed. This concentration is approximately double the max level that ADEM considers safe for swimming, which is 235 E. coli per 100 mL of water. And, yes, the E. coli dissapear relatively quickly in surface waters since they prefer 98.6 degrees inside the animal intestinal tract. We/Lake Watch are working with a microbiologist at AU who is sampling the water and doing genetic testing, called Microbial Source Tracking, to determine what animal the E. coli is coming from - human, cattle, chicken, wildlife, other.  We/Lake Watch will let folks know as we get results from this work.