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Use of salinity mixing models to estimate the contribution of creek water fecal indicator bacteria to an estuarine environment: Newport Bay, California
- Source :
- Water Research. 41:3595-3604
- Publication Year :
- 2007
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2007.
-
Abstract
- The contribution of freshwater discharge to fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) impairment of an estuarine environment can be approximated from simple, two end-member mixing models using salinity as a tracer. We conducted a yearlong time series investigation of Newport Bay, a regionally important estuarine embayment in southern California, assessing the concentrations of FIB, specifically Escherichia coli and enterococci bacteria, and salinity. In total, eight within-bay stations and one offshore control site were sampled nearly once per week and the three tributaries draining into Newport Bay were sampled approximately daily. Using salinity as a conservative tracer for water mass mixing and determining the end-member values of FIB in both the creek sites and the offshore site, we created a linear, two end-member mixing model of FIB within Newport Bay. Deviations from the mixing model suggest either an additional source of FIB to the bay (e.g. bird feces, storm drain discharge) or regrowth and/or die-off of FIB within the bay. Our results indicate that salinity mixing models can be useful in predicting changes in FIB concentrations in the estuarine environments and can help narrow the search for sources of FIB to the bay and enhance our understanding of the fate of FIB within the bay.
- Subjects :
- Salinity
Water mass
Environmental Engineering
Indicator bacteria
Fresh Water
California
Feces
Enterobacteriaceae
Tributary
Escherichia coli
Water Movements
Water Pollutants
Water pollution
Waste Management and Disposal
Ecosystem
Water Science and Technology
Civil and Structural Engineering
Hydrology
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
Ecological Modeling
Estuary
Models, Theoretical
Pollution
Bacterial Typing Techniques
Oceanography
Environmental science
Storm drain
Water Microbiology
Bay
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00431354
- Volume :
- 41
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Water Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f5219eee5776373d3c04d76cfb7049d2