

@mastersthesis {6989,
	title = {Identification and remediation of microbial contaminants in the headwaters of an agricultural watershed},
	year = {2012},
	note = {3530244},
	school = {The Ohio State University},
	type = {phdPh.{D}.},
	address = {Ann Arbor},
	abstract = {Forty years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, water contaminated with microbial pathogens is still one of the most severe challenges in the U.S. The inability to differentiate non-point sources of pathogens has severely limited the development of effective management strategies to reduce their presence. To reduce both point and non-point source pollution in U.S. waterways, USEPA established and implemented the limits of the total maximum daily load (TMDL) specific to each watershed since 1985. Meanwhile, USDA and other agencies try to diffuse conservation practices to improve streams. However, microbial contamination remains as one of the most severe problems in natural waterways particular in agricultural-dominant watersheds. To successfully address the problems, it is critical to understand sources of pollution, stream habitat characteristics, and attitudes of local people on their streams to develop effective remediation strategies from a holistic point of view. Using the Upper Sugar Creek as a model watershed, we identified potential sources of microbial pathogens; correlated microbial diversity and stream habitats characteristics; and analyzed factors affecting local people{\textquoteright}s willingness to adopt conservation practices to reduce the presence of microbial pathogens in the watershed. Study results show that the primary sources of microbial pollution in the Upper Sugar Creek were the human coliforms instead of animal coliforms. The increased pathogen level resulted from failing septic systems and the lack of awareness and knowledge regarding microbial pollution and septic systems. Study results also demonstrate that microbial diversity largely depended on land use, precipitation, and temperature, and was positively associated with stream habitat characteristics. Habitat characteristics are determined by two positively correlated variables, the primary headwater habitat evaluation index (HHEI) and headwater macroinvertebrate field evaluation index (HMEFI). They can be used as a rapid tool to access headwaters in the field. Survey results indicated decisive factors affecting people{\textquoteright}s adoption of conservation practices. They are farm size, income, farm succession, sense of place, and awareness and knowledge about stream pollution. Regression results of mean willingness to pay for farmers and non-farmers were \$151.67 and \$156.95 for scenario 2 that microbial pathogen level would be lower than EPA standards for 3 years, and \$171.88 and \$197.57 for scenario 3 that that microbial pathogen level would meet EPA standards for 5 years.},
	keywords = {0410:Microbiology, 0768:Environmental science, Agricultural watersheds, Biological sciences, Environmental science, Health and environmental sciences, Microbial contamination, Microbiology, Stream habitats},
	url = {http://search.proquest.com/docview/1238016084?accountid=14270},
	author = {Wei, Xiaoping}
}
