Site-specific multiple linear regression models were developed for one beach in Ohio (three discrete sampling sites) and one beach in Pennsylvania to estimate concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) or the probability of exceeding the bathing-water standard for E. coli in recreational waters used by the public. Traditional culture-based methods are commonly used to estimate concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria, such as E. coli; however, results are obtained 18 to 24 hours post sampling and do not accurately reflect current water-quality conditions. Beach-specific mathematical models use environmental and water-quality variables that are easily and quickly measured as surrogates to estimate concentrations of fecal-indicator bacteria or to provide the probability that a State recreational water-quality standard will be exceeded. When predictive models are used for beach closure or advisory decisions, they are referred to as “nowcasts”. Software designed for model development by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Virtual Beach) was used. The selected model for each beach was based on a combination of explanatory variables including, most commonly, turbidity, water temperature, change in lake level over 24 hours, and antecedent rainfall. Model results are used by managers to report water-quality conditions to the public through the Great Lakes NowCast in 2019 (https://pa.water.usgs.gov/apps/nowcast/). Model performance in 2019 (sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy) was compared to using the previous day's E. coli concentration (persistence method).

Samples are collected by trained NY State Parks staff or laboratory technicians, and are analyzed by an environmental laboratory approval program (ELAP) laboratory. The results are shared with the Water Quality Unit within State Park’s Division of Environmental Stewardship and Planning and are saved in the Beach Monitoring Database.

Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan, as well as in Illinois and Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. Water samples were collected at each site in Indiana three times a week for thirteen weeks and at each site in Illinois and Wisconsin. All samples were analyzed for E. coli bacteria (an indicator bacteria for fecal contamination) and species-specific molecular markers (microbial source tracking, MST), including human, gull, and dog. Presence of MST markers indicates a fecal source at that location associated with the target animal. Field conditions were recorded during each site visit (e.g., including air and water temp, wind speed and direction, rainfall, wave height, currents, observations). Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for E. coli using defined substrate technology and for MST markers using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods and also turbidity. Lat_long_v2 file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The E coli_turbidity_v2 data include E. coli densities and turbidity measurements. Data from the qpcr_v4 file includes results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detection of host-specific microbial source tracking markers. Data from SanitarySurvey includes ambient conditions measured in the field: water and air temperature, current speed and direction (eastward, westward, float method), wind direction and speed, wave height, rainfall, and cloud cover. Data from SanitarySurvey_birds included number of birds (gulls, geese, ducks, cormorants, etc.) counted on the beach and in the water. The PowerWater.pdf is the DNA extraction kits' user manual giving detailed instructions for use.

Water quality measurements at 3 beach sites in the Great Lakes from the summer of 2015: Edgewater Beach, OH; Grant Park, WI; Washington Park, MI. Data include associated environmental parameters (meteorological and hydrologic). Microbial data include cultured fecal indicator bacteria, coliphage, and molecular marker (qPCR) measurements. Detailed description of data collection activities can be found in Wanjugi et al. 2018: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004313541830349X. Portions of this dataset are inaccessible because: It is included. They can be accessed through the following means: ScienceHub. Format: Excel File with a "MetaData" tab describing the data columns. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Cyterski, M., O. Shanks, P. Wanjugi, B. McMinn, A. Korajkic, K. Oshima, and R. Haugland. Bacterial and Viral Fecal Indicator Predictive Modeling Using Gradient Boosting at Three Great Lakes Recreational Beach Sites. WATER RESEARCH. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, USA, 223: 118970, (2022).

Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. The study was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala West, Whihala East, Whihala west breakwater, Hammond Marina, Whihala offshore locations, and the Grand Calumet River) one day a week or three times a week between 2015 and 2018. While the 2015 data were included in analysis, these data were previously publicly released https://doi.org/10.5066/F7H70F3D. Samples (water, sand, sediment) were analyzed for E. coli bacteria (an indicator bacterium for fecal contamination) and species-specific molecular markers (microbial source tracking, MST), including human (HF183, Mnif), gull (Gull2), and dog (DogBact). Presence of MST markers indicates a fecal source associated with the target animal at that location. Bird counts were recorded during each site visit. Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for E. coli using defined substrate technology, for MST markers using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods, and turbidity, conductivity, and pH. Additionally in 2015, samples were collected during two dry and one wet event and subjected to metagenomics analysis for determining bacterial communities. The additional samples were collected at Whihala, Jeorse Park, Grand Calumet River, as well as three offshore locations associated with the Grand Calumet River: mouth to the lake at a peninsular structure and north and east of the structure. Lat_long file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The EcoliWaterChem data include E. coli densities and water chemistry (turbidity, conductivity, pH) measurements. Data from the MST file includes results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detection of host-specific microbial source tracking markers as follows: Gulls (Gull2), Dogs (DogBact), and human (HF183, Mnif). Data from Birds included number of birds (gulls, geese, ducks, cormorants, etc.) counted on the beach and in the water. The metagenomics file includes taxonomic information and corresponding percent abundance of each organism for each sample. The metagenomics file includes taxonomic information and corresponding organisms' percent abundance for each sample. The metagenomicsKey file includes information pertinent to individual samples.

The discharge of disinfected sewage from vessels carrying less than 16 people in the vicinity of recognised swimming beaches and monitored recreational waters during the summer period has been created in accordance with the Sewage Management Directive. The Discharge of Sewage from Certain Vessels into State Waters is a risk-based approach to sewage discharge which specifies where sewage may and may not be discharged from certain vessels into Tasmanian waters.

Fecal indicator bacteria levels are measured in water samples collected from ocean and bay beaches, streams, lakes and other coastal waterways. Water samples are processed using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray/2000 Method to enumerate enterococcus bacteria, a bacteria indicator used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine human health risk at beaches and in other recreational waters. Surfrider lab and sampling site locations can be viewed at http://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force

Fecal indicator bacteria levels are measured in water samples collected from ocean and bay beaches, streams, lakes and other coastal waterways. Water samples are processed using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray/2000 Method to enumerate enterococcus bacteria, a bacteria indicator used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine human health risk at beaches and in other recreational waters. Surfrider lab and sampling site locations can be viewed at http://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force