New tools to monitor E. coli

Local beaches, clean

Water quality experts are using DNA tools to track down contamination responsible for beach closures and reduced recreational opportunities along the Great Lakes and other Michigan inland lakes and streams.

Fecal contamination, indicated by the presence of E. coli bacteria, is the leading cause of beach closures in the U.S., said Wenjing Ren, a postdoctoral fellow in Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.