MST in Two Southern Maine Watersheds
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Microbial Source Tracking Project Update

January 17, 2002

Dear Volunteer,

I hope this update finds you well and you’re able to enjoy the relatively mild weather we’re having. Our second sampling date went quite smoothly, and we’d like to thank all the volunteers for making it so. We received samples from all our sites by 3 pm. Also, thanks to some great help in the lab, we were able to finish in about half the time as previously.

Our results indicated generally lower levels of fecal coliform/E. coli across the board. Blacksmith Brook still had by far the lowest levels. Colder weather may have reduced the number of viable bacteria in the water overall. I mentioned in the last update that we’d taken our first samples to UNH’s Jackson Estuarine Lab for genetic analysis. They have not yet completed the genetic analysis, so unfortunately I can’t provide any additional details on it at this time. We have the isolated bacteria from the Jan.8 date ready to take to UNH soon, which we will do. When we get our first results back, we’ll let you know what they are.

Our next pre-scheduled sample date will be Thursday, February 7. Let us know soon if you think you’ll be available for that date. As far as post-precipitation dates, our eyes are open for rain or large snow events, and we will put out the call as soon as the timing looks right. We will try to do our on-call sampling on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Also let us know if you are interested in helping out in the lab. We usually do our membrane filtrations between 11:30 am and 4 pm on the sample day, and between 2 and 4 pm the next day. If you want to help out for some or all of that time, we’d be glad to work with you.

See you soon,

Cayce Dalton and Fred Dillon

207-646-1555, ext 103

CICEET funded Microbial Source Tracking Project

Project partners: UM Sea Grant, Wells NERR, UNH/Jackson Lab, University of Southern Maine and AmeriCorps/Maine Conservation Corps