Photos   

Near Shore Sampling

A small boat was used to sample near shore. At each site water and three bottom sediment samples were collected and tested for E-coli. The modified mTec method was used to test for E-coli in the water samples. The three bottom sediment samples were composited and the Colilert method was used to analyze  for E-coli.  A hydrolab was also used to record temperature, specific conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen.

Off Shore Sampling

A large boat was used to collect samples in deeper water.
Water was collected and tested for E-coli at each site by the same method used in the near shore sites. In addition, temperature, specific conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen readings were collected using a Hydrolab. The bottom sediment was collected using a Petit Ponar. Again, three samples were collected at each site and composited in a sterile tub. The method for analysis was the same as the near shore sites.

Sediment Traps

A sediment trap was designed to collect suspended sediment. The traps consisted of a set of five graduated cylinders surrounding a circular base. The sediment traps were placed at the mouths of several small rivers draining into the Maumee River. Other sediment traps were placed at the mouths of ditches discharging into the Maumee Bay area. The series of five sets allowed to test E-coli densities over time. Each time a sample was pulled for analysis, a water sample and three bottom sediment samples were collected and composited in the lab. Bottom and trap samples were collected and processed using the Colilert method. Water samples were processed using the modified mTEC method.