Detailed Program

Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) serves a Lake Michigan shoreline community where rapid, accurate beach water quality monitoring is a seasonal public health priority. Through a 2025 EGLE grant, OCDPH upgraded to the IDEXX TECTA rapid testing system, reducing sample result turnaround from 18 hours to as little as four, while increasing the number of beaches that are sampled. Results are automatically routed to a public-facing Power BI dashboard that calculates water quality metrics and pushes alerts when water quality standards are exceeded. This session will walk through OCDPH's first full season with TECTA, offering an honest look at implementation, lessons learned, and the public health impact of getting accurate beach safety information into the hands of swimmers faster than ever before.

Abstract: Ottawa County, Michigan sits along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, where the Grand River empties into the lake within county boundaries — creating dynamic water quality conditions that demand reliable, timely monitoring. Each summer, thousands of residents and visitors rely on the county's public beaches for recreation, making the speed and accuracy of water quality data a direct public health concern. In 2025, Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) was awarded funding through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Rapid Testing and Source Tracking for Beaches Grant, launching a significant transformation in how the agency monitors, analyzes, and communicates beach water quality to the public. The grant enabled OCDPH to upgrade its testing platform from the IDEXX Quanti-Tray System to the IDEXX TECTA System, expand the number of actively monitored beaches, and strengthen its overall reporting structure. The shift to TECTA represented a major operational improvement — producing results in as little as four hours compared to the 18-hour plus turnaround time of the previous system. TECTA also analyzes samples in real time and delivers results directly to a designated email inbox, eliminating the need for staff to be physically present to read and record results. The program also incorporates source tracking capabilities to aid in identifying contamination sources when water quality thresholds are exceeded. That email-based delivery became the foundation for a broader automation initiative. OCDPH developed a workflow that automatically transfers incoming sample results to a centralized data table, which in turn feeds a public-facing Power BI dashboard. The dashboard calculates the daily geometric mean and seasonal geometric average in real time and generates automatic alerts when water quality thresholds are exceeded — moving from sample collection to public notification faster than ever before, with minimal manual intervention. This presentation will provide a detailed overview of OCDPH's 2026 beach sampling season, the first full season utilizing the TECTA platform. Attendees will hear an honest assessment of the system, including practical advantages, operational challenges, and lessons learned during implementation. The public-facing dashboard will be demonstrated, with discussion of its design, functionality, and the data it presents to beachgoers and stakeholders. The presentation will also explore the broader public health value of rapid data transparency — examining how faster reporting influences swimmer behavior, supports timely advisories, and builds community trust in local health agencies. OCDPH will share the outreach and awareness strategies employed during the 2026 season to increase public engagement with the dashboard and beach monitoring program.
 

Gen-Spot® is an innovative molecular tool for rapid and accurate assessment of recreational water quality through RNA-based detection of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, the key indicators defined by regulatory frameworks. Unlike conventional culture-based methods requiring 18–48 hours, Gen-Spot® delivers results within approximately 3 hours. By targeting RNA, it detects specifically viable and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria, providing a more biologically relevant measure of pollution. The method has been validated across diverse aquatic environments and widely deployed along the French shoreline, demonstrating robustness under varying conditions. Overall, Gen-Spot® enables near real-time, data-driven management of bathing water quality, supporting timely decision-making and improved protection of public health.

Abstract: The management of recreational water quality represents a critical public health and environmental challenge, as it directly affects the safety of users. In this global context, the molecular tool Gen-Spot® has been developed to enable rapid and effective monitoring of bacteriological water quality of these areas. It constitutes a significant technological advancement over conventional culture-based methods, which typically require incubation times of 18 to 48 hours. This innovative approach emerged in response to strong demand from French local authorities for a reactive tool to support proactive daily management of recreational waters in compliance with the European Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/CE). Technically, Gen-Spot® is based on the specific quantitative detection of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci RNA. This patented method targets specific taxonomic markers to accurately discriminate between these two fecal contamination indicators, which are currently recognized as the primary bacterial parameters by regulatory frameworks. By directly targeting bacterial RNA, this approach enables sensitive quantification of viable and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) populations while excluding dead cells. The workflow relies on direct molecular analysis, including RNA extraction and RT-qPCR steps, enabling rapid result delivery and reducing the time-to-result to approximately 3 hours. It has been validated across diverse environmental matrices, including marine beaches, freshwater lakes and rivers. Its deployment along the French coastline, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, demonstrates its adaptability to a wide range of challenging environmental conditions. Performance has been systematically evaluated against standardized culture-based methods to ensure robustness.  Operationally, Gen-Spot® enables real-time management of recreational waters, as demonstrated by the summer monitoring of 11 to 40 sites sampled daily along the French Basque coast (approximately 2,800 to 3,500 analyses from the May to September). Combined with hour-by-hour forecasting tools and AI-based algorithms, this approach provides key decision support for local stakeholders to protect public health, by opening or closing the swimming zone at the right moment.  Overall, Gen-Spot® represents a major step toward more proactive and reliable management of recreational waters, integrating molecular innovation with regulatory requirements.
 

Beach managers face a structural timing problem: culture-based E. coli methods require 18–24 hours, meaning today's notification decisions rest on yesterday's water. This presentation shares peer-reviewed field validation results (Water Research, 2026) from a continuous, in-situ tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) sensor deployed across twelve sites on two continents — including Cleveland's Euclid Creek, the Chicago Calumet River, Boston-area waters, Boulder Creek, and the Seine in Paris during the 2024 Olympics swim season. Paired against EPA-approved Colilert and membrane filtration, a machine learning model achieved a 19% mean absolute percentage error on temporally held-out data spanning more than four orders of magnitude, with binary classification at the Paris bathing-water threshold exceeding 90% balanced accuracy. We discuss what continuous TLF can and cannot do for beach programs, how it complements rather than replaces culture-based methods, and operational realities including biofouling, calibration drift, and integration with existing notification workflows. The session closes with preliminary observations from the next-generation v1.2 sensor — featuring improved photomultiplier sensitivity plus onboard temperature and turbidity compensation — and implications for state, tribal, and local beach programs evaluating continuous microbial monitoring within BEACH Act and risk communication frameworks.

Abstract: Recreational water quality programs face a structural timing gap. Conventional regulatory methods for fecal indicator bacteria — membrane filtration and IDEXX Colilert — require 18–24 hours of laboratory incubation before results are available. By the time today's E. coli value is reported, the contamination event has typically passed and the swimmers exposed to it have already gone home. Same-day beach advisories and closures are made on the basis of yesterday's water, which both under-protects public health during fresh contamination events and over-restricts access when conditions have already recovered. Tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) is an optical signal whose intensity correlates with microbial-associated organic material in water. Continuous in-situ TLF measurement offers a pathway to near-real-time microbial water quality information — not as a regulatory replacement for culture-based methods, but as a screening and decision-support layer that informs notification timing, sampling prioritization, and public communication. This presentation reports peer-reviewed field validation results (Knopp et al., Water Research, 2026; DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2026.126099) from internet-connected TLF fluorimeters deployed at twelve recreational and source water sites across two continents: Boulder Creek (CO), the Calumet River (Chicago), Euclid Creek (Cleveland), the Charles River and Manchester Bay (Boston area), and three swimming docks on the Seine in Paris during the 2024 Olympics. Sensors reported continuously via cellular network. A total of 661 paired grab samples were analyzed by EPA-approved membrane filtration and IDEXX Colilert. Under controlled conditions, the sensor demonstrated sub-ppb tryptophan sensitivity, with reproducible inter-sensor agreement and reliable discrimination between 0.1 and 0.5 ppb (p = 0.0002) — performance that exceeds the manufacturer-stated detection limits of widely deployed commercial TLF instruments. Field deployments showed strong quantitative agreement with laboratory E. coli measurements: over 75% of bench-scale predictions fell within the analytical uncertainty bounds of the Colilert reference method (per-sensor R² = 0.77–0.84; MAPE = 13–15%). A globally trained gradient-boosted model spanning all twelve sites achieved RMSE of 0.59 log units and MAPE of 19% on a temporally held-out test set covering more than four orders of magnitude of E. coli concentration. Binary classification at the Paris bathing-water threshold of 900 CFU/100 mL exceeded 90% balanced accuracy on time-blocked holdout data. The presentation addresses three questions of direct relevance to beach program managers. First, what does sub-20% MAPE and >90% threshold-classification accuracy mean in practice for a notification program — where does it add value, and where do its limitations matter? Second, how should continuous TLF data be integrated alongside culture-based monitoring, predictive models, and sanitary survey workflows? Third, what does realistic operational deployment look like, including biofouling mitigation, calibration cadence, and integration with public-facing notification systems? We close with preliminary results from the next-generation v1.2 sensor, which incorporates a higher-sensitivity silicon photomultiplier and onboard turbidity and temperature compensation — addressing the primary sources of residual prediction error identified in the published study — and a discussion of pathways for state, tribal, and local beach programs interested in continuous microbial monitoring within their existing regulatory and risk communication frameworks.
 

Why are we still testing yesterday’s water? Bactiquick, the ‘lab in your pocket’, allows near real-time bacterial water quality data providing a new level of environmental insight. This session describes the development of a new App to utilise the accumulation of real-time data from multiple locations to produce water quality maps and trends forming a ‘Water Intelligence Network’ (WIN). Combining this data with environmental signals (tides, weather, storm overflows) using an AI platform will move the WIN from showing observed results to predicting risk. 

Abstract: Bactiquick provides near real-time bacterial water quality risk assessment with data accessed on an App via Bluetooth. Bactiquick is increasingly being used by water companies, community groups and universities in the UK, US and Europe providing an accumulation of water quality data. The development of Bactiquick pro with calibration modes, kinetic assay workflows and enhanced memory has allowed development of a new App that combines water quality data with additional geographical data. This has produced features including water quality maps and trend data. The data provides a ‘Water Intelligence Network ‘(WIN) to be developed. The model is being tested daily at flagship sites in the UK, US and Europe building evidence across coastal, inland and wastewater environments. Data from this network will be described. Building on this data, we are moving beyond showing observed results to a risk prediction model. This is being done by combining the water quality data with environmental signals such as tides, weather, storm overflows using an AI platform.  Each new reading will improve the accuracy of the model and Initial data from the predictive model from 3 live pilot studies will be demonstrated. Trends of data on a beach allows us to see how certain beaches trend over the last 30 results or the last 30 days. Predictive modelling will take us on a journey from yesterday’s water to today’s water to tomorrow’s water.
 

For goal 1, we will present how optical brighteners have been used by researchers in formal (peer-reviewed publications) and informal (e.g., citizen science) settings. For goal 2, laboratory methods included controlled experiments using of known household detergents to determine method sensitivity. Field work included comparing water samples from a small West Michigan watershed for optical brighteners, Colilert- 18™ and a molecular based method (ddPCR) for human DNA markers (HF183). 

Abstract: Culture based methods, such as Colilert- 18™, have been the routine water quality testing method for microbial contamination for over 25 years, but are non-specific for human waste and require an extended incubation time; meaning, the results are reported the day after exposure to contaminated water may have occurred. Molecular-based methods, such as qPCR and ddPCR, can provide same day results and can be used to identify human-specific sources of contamination, however they require a significant investment in equipment, laboratory infrastructure, and are considerably more challenging to implement. Recently the use of optical brighteners, a cost-effective alternative method, has shown promise as an initial screening tool for the presence of human pathogen markers in environmental samples. Optical brighteners are synthetic compounds used in laundry detergents to make white materials whiter, and color materials look brighter, when exposed to the sun. Detergents and water from laundering clothes end up as components of sanitary wastes. A simple, inexpensive to use handheld fluorometer can be used in the field to detect the presence of optical brighteners in lakes and streams. These brighteners can serve as indicators of leaks in wastewater collection systems and/or problems with septic tanks. The goals of this presentation are to 1) provide a critical review of optical brighteners as a screening tool; and 2) discuss recent results from our laboratory and field studies where optical brighteners have been utilized.  Methodology For goal 1, we will present how optical brighteners have been used by researchers in formal (peer-reviewed publications) and informal (e.g., citizen science) settings. For goal 2, laboratory methods included controlled experiments using of known household detergents to determine method sensitivity. Field work included comparing water samples from a small West Michigan watershed for optical brighteners, Colilert- 18™ and a molecular based method (ddPCR) for human DNA markers (HF183).  Key Findings Optical brighteners have been used successfully in both formal and informal settings as a screening tool for human waste. In the laboratory significant linear relationships were observed for a variety of household detergents. In the field we observed significant correlations between both E. coli and optical brighteners, as well as optical brighteners and HF183.  Conclusion Optical brighteners can serve as an effective and budget friendly screening tool for human waste.
 

This session presents a long-term, place-based approach to integrating environmental monitoring with public communication to improve beach health outcomes in the Great Lakes region. Using over two decades of water quality monitoring from Racine, Wisconsin, the City of Racine Public Health Department developed intentionally designed, community-facing report cards that translate complex environmental data into accessible information. These tools are embedded within a broader communication system that includes daily beach status updates, public service announcements, and community engagement, all designed to build trust, support informed behavior, and strengthen environmental governance. The session highlights how this integrated model connects scientific credibility, communication strategy, and community partnerships to drive measurable improvements in beach conditions and public use. This approach offers a replicable framework for translating environmental data into action across coastal and freshwater systems.

Abstract:The Great Lakes region is defined by its water, where public health, ecological health, and community identity converge. Yet the connections between community behavior and the health of local beaches, rivers, and natural areas remain poorly understood by the people who use them most. In practice, this is often a failure of communication rather than a failure of public will. Closing this gap requires credible science, accessible materials, and sustained community relationships that move people from understanding to action. North and Zoo Beaches in Racine, Wisconsin receive approximately 200,000 visitors annually, making beach health both a public health and equity priority. These beaches are part of a natural area supporting 89 native plant species and more than 190 documented bird species. The City of Racine Public Health Department has monitored these waters for more than two decades and was among the first in the country to implement standardized qPCR testing and Beach Sanitary Surveys, while also maintaining a sustained commitment to water quality, habitat restoration, and public access. The department’s North and Zoo Beaches and Root River Report Cards translate years of monitoring into intentionally designed, community-facing tools that make complex data understandable and present beach health holistically, integrating water quality, habitat conditions, public use, and climate-driven environmental change. These report cards are one component of a broader communication system that translates scientific monitoring into accessible, repeated public information, building trust, enabling informed behavior, and supporting local environmental governance. This communication system includes multiple formats designed to close the gap between data and public understanding and to inform on-the-ground action. In cooperation with the City’s Parks Department, a daily beach status system integrating water quality results, wave conditions, and lifeguard reports was implemented. Communication efforts also include vintage-style public service announcements linking resident behaviors directly to beach closures and community presentations designed as two-way exchanges that shape program direction. Partnerships with the Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps, Weed Out! Racine, and the Root River Council support public access improvements, habitat restoration, and invasive species management that form the ecological foundation of a healthy beach. A partnership with the Racine Yacht Club enables beneficial reuse of dredged material at North Beach, advancing restoration goals while reducing disposal costs. The department serves as a central resource for water quality information and education grounded in local data, designed to reach audiences from first-time beach visitors to policymakers. North Beach, once characterized by persistent advisories and unknown contamination sources, is now consistently ranked among Wisconsin’s top swimming destinations, an outcome reflecting decades of sustained investment in monitoring, restoration, and community trust. When scientific credibility, intentional communication, and strong community partnerships work together, public health agencies can move beyond monitoring and notification to active stewardship. This approach offers a replicable path from local data to community action, grounded in the places and people it serves.
 

Canada geese contribute to elevated E. coli levels at public beaches, posing human health risks and triggering closures. While natural shorelines improve water quality and habitat, these benefits alone do not always motivate public action. In fall 2025, the Watershed Council paired a shoreline restoration project with a reframed outreach message, “Block the Flock,” linking vegetation to goose deterrence, beach access, and public health. This approach generated strong community interest despite modest event attendance. The project demonstrates how strategic messaging can increase engagement by connecting ecological practices to visible, locally relevant outcomes.

Abstract: Canada geese are a persistent presence on public beaches, but their impacts extend beyond aesthetics to measurable human health risks. Fecal contamination from geese contributes to elevated E. coli levels, which can trigger beach advisories and closures under full body contact recreation standards. Natural shorelines provide well documented ecological benefits, including improved water quality and habitat protection, messages long promoted by watershed organizations. However, these benefits alone do not consistently drive public engagement or behavior change. In fall 2025, the Watershed Council implemented a natural shoreline restoration project at a public beach with a history of E. coli related advisories. Funded by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Nonpoint Source Program, the project included a community outreach event built around a reframed message, “Block the Flock.” This approach emphasized shoreline vegetation as a mechanism to deter geese and reduce bacterial contamination, directly linking restoration actions to beach usability and public health outcomes. Although attendance at the event was modest, community interest and engagement exceeded expectations. The response suggests that reframing environmental restoration around immediate, visible concerns such as beach access and nuisance wildlife can be more effective in generating public attention than traditional messaging focused on water quality alone. This work highlights how changes in messaging and risk framing can influence public engagement with watershed restoration, and it underscores the importance of connecting ecological interventions to outcomes that are locally visible and personally relevant.
 

This presentation explores the partnership between the Galveston Bay Foundation and Texas Stream Team to integrate IDEXX bacteria monitoring into Texas' statewide community science water quality monitoring program. Attendees will learn how grant funding is supporting the development of a state-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan, standardized laboratory procedures, and volunteer training. The session will also highlight the pathway for approved community science bacteria data to be submitted to the Texas Surface Water Quality Monitoring Information System and used in Texas' Integrated Report. Join us to learn how this collaborative effort is expanding volunteer bacteria monitoring while strengthening statewide water quality assessments.

Abstract: Fecal indicator bacteria remain the leading cause of water quality impairments in Texas, underscoring the need for expanded, high-quality bacteria monitoring. To expand statewide monitoring capacity while maintaining rigorous data quality standards, the Galveston Bay Foundation has developed an IDEXX-based volunteer bacteria monitoring framework that serves as the foundation for integration into Texas Stream Team, the state's community science water quality monitoring program. This presentation will highlight the collaborative effort to integrate the IDEXX monitoring system into the Texas Stream Team program through the development of a formal, state-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. The partnership will establish standardized laboratory procedures, quality assurance protocols, and training requirements that enable community scientists to collect bacteria data that meet the quality standards necessary for regulatory use. Presenters will discuss how grant funding is supporting the development and implementation of this framework, the roles of each partner, and the phased approach for expanding volunteer bacteria monitoring opportunities across Texas. Once approved, data collected through the Texas Stream Team program will be submitted to the Texas Surface Water Quality Monitoring Information System and become eligible for inclusion in Texas' Integrated Report, creating a direct pathway for community science data to inform statewide water quality assessments and watershed management decisions. Attendees will gain insight into the process of integrating a community science program into a regulatory-quality monitoring framework, lessons learned throughout implementation, and the opportunities this model creates for expanding high-quality bacteria monitoring across Texas. This collaborative approach demonstrates how partnerships between nonprofit organizations and statewide monitoring programs can strengthen environmental data collection while increasing public engagement in water resource stewardship.
 

Michigan is investing in a once-in-a-generation transformation of its infrastructure and needs a workforce that is ready to meet the moment. Michigan’s vision is to build a strong, robust network of state, regional, and local partners that prepares Michiganders for high-demand infrastructure careers. As the state’s leader in workforce development, LEO is aligning industry, workforce, labor, and community organizations to create a unified, statewide approach to preparing the infrastructure workforce, through the Building Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce program (the BMIW program).

Abstract: Historic infrastructure investments are underway across Michigan and decisive action is needed to ensure the state has the skilled workforce to deliver these projects, then sustain and manage infrastructure post construction. In April 2024, Governor Whitmer’s ED charged Program Partners to develop a plan addressing this urgent need.
 

This session explores beach sand as an often-overlooked environmental matrix with relevance for public health protection. It presents findings from a two-year assessment of microbiological contamination in sand from Blue Flag beaches, including fungi and faecal indicator bacteria. The session examines spatial and seasonal patterns and discusses the influence of environmental and human-related factors on sand quality. Results are framed within current beach monitoring practices to highlight existing gaps. The session concludes by considering how sand monitoring could complement bathing water surveillance and support improved coastal management.

Abstract:  There is growing concern about the quality of sand on beaches, as users tend to spend most of their time on the sand rather than in the water. Numerous pathogenic agents have reportedly been isolated from sand, including bacteria, nematodes and opportunistic fungi. The ability of sand to retain pollutants and facilitate the transmission of pathogens raises public health concerns. We analysed sand-monitoring data from the 2024 and 2025 bathing seasons on Blue Flag beaches to find trends and patterns in total fungal counts, enterococci, and E. coli. The values recorded for microorganisms showed considerable variability, which may reflect the possible combined influence of multiple climatic, environmental, and anthropogenic factors contributing to their presence in beach sand. Our findings suggest that the total fungal count on coastal beaches may be influenced by periods of rainfall, which increases the fungal load in the sand. Values recorded from inland beaches vary considerably between beaches which may reflect the influence of local environmental characteristics, particularly vegetation and beach morphology, although the smaller number of inland samples also makes it difficult to define clear patterns and consistent reference values for this parameter. Bacterial indicators may be particularly influenced by occasional anthropogenic disturbances and contamination events. This study adds significantly to the understanding of the microbiological quality of beach sand, encouraging the integration of sand monitoring into environmental surveillance and management programmes.
 

Wastewater surveillance is now formally embedded in EU public-health infrastructure under the revised Urban Wastewater Directive (EU) 2024/3019—yet fungi and antifungals remain absent from the default minimum surveillance package, creating a critical regulatory gap, which is not exlusive of the EU. This talk argues for expanding wastewater monitoring to include fungal threats (e.g., Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus) and antifungal residues, particularly where treated wastewater is discharged or reused (e.g., irrigation and aerosol exposure pathways). 

Drawing on emerging evidence and operational examples (including hospital catchment monitoring in Lisbon), it outlines a practical, tiered toolbox—qPCR for sensitive detection, culture/AST for recovery and resistance profiling, and sequencing when source attribution is needed. 
Finally, it proposes linking wastewater signals to concrete actions (clinical screening, IPC measures, treatment optimisation, and reuse risk management), using PNEC-based thresholds to prioritise antifungals for monitoring as QMRA evidence matures.

Abstract: November 2024 marked publication of the new EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (2024/3019), proposed by the European Commission in 2022. This update is significant because it formalises wastewater surveillance as a component of routine public-health infrastructure—not merely an emergency tool. It responds to major shortcomings in the 1991 directive, highlighted by uneven implementation, persistent pollution problems, and new scientific knowledge, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic’s demonstration that wastewater can provide early warning of emerging pathogens. While the directive expands routine monitoring and strengthens treatment requirements, fungi and antifungals are not included in the default minimum surveillance package, leaving a clear regulatory gap. Wastewater-based population health monitoring dates back to the 1940s but scaled rapidly during COVID-19 as a complement to clinical testing, enabling surge prediction and healthcare preparedness. The same logic supports early warning and situational awareness for fungal threats and antifungal resistance as a One Health issue, especially given the environmental release and reuse of treated wastewater. Current EU reuse frameworks typically set microbiological criteria such as E. coli but do not explicitly address fungi or antifungal compounds, despite plausible exposure routes through aerosols and irrigation. Because treatment is not always quaternary, effluent discharges and reclaimed water reuse can contribute pathogens and resistance determinants to downstream environments, including crops, drinking-water sources, recreational waters, and aerosolised settings. Throughout the treatment train, microorganisms and antimicrobials can remain in close contact and then enter the environment together, potentially promoting selection and resistance transfer. This strengthens the case for pairing organism surveillance (fungal targets) with “selection-pressure” surveillance (antifungal residues), particularly where reclaimed water is used. Emerging work on antifungal contaminants offers a practical bridge: Predicted No-Effect Concentrations (PNECs) can help prioritise antifungals for monitoring and guide acceptable levels in effluents and reclaimed water. Globally, the Glowacon initiative (since March 2024) has advanced coordinated action and knowledge-sharing, listing Candida auris and Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto for environmental wastewater monitoring. Wastewater-based detection of C. auris has demonstrated feasibility using qPCR, with culture/typing where possible, and highlights the value of targeting high-risk sewersheds such as hospital catchments. Hospital wastewater monitoring in Lisbon further illustrates how fungal screening can be operationalised regionally as a pragmatic add-on to the EU minimum package. Proposal: a surveillance agenda aligned with the directive’s intent: (i) pilot fungal monitoring in hospitals and vulnerable sewersheds; (ii) track fungal targets alongside antifungal residues; (iii) apply a tiered toolbox (qPCR for sensitivity, culture for recovery/AST, sequencing when source attribution matters); and (iv) connect wastewater signals to action through clinical screening, infection prevention and control, treatment optimisation, and reuse risk management, building thresholds progressively as QMRA evidence matures.
 

Harmful algal blooms caused by Ostreopsis species are an increasing threat to coastal ecosystems and public health, specifically in highly touristic areas. Traditional microscopy-based monitoring is limited in its ability to deliver rapid results and distinguish closely related species with different toxicities, leading to delayed or uncertain detection. Following health incidents linked to Ostreopsis cf. ovata in 2021 on the French Basque coast (Atlantic Ocean), targeted investigations confirmed recurrent blooms in this region. To address these limitations, we developed a rapid and sensitive qPCR-based method enabling species-specific detection and quantification of Ostreopsis cf. ovata and Ostreopsis sp. 9 (formerly known as Ostreopsis cf. siamensis) within four hours. Integrated into an operational monitoring framework, this approach may improve bloom characterization and support new management strategies for health protection.

Abstract: Harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by toxic benthic dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis, represent an increasing threat to coastal ecosystems and public health worldwide. Conventional monitoring approaches based on light microscopy often fail to reliably discriminate closely related species with contrasting toxicological profiles, resulting in under-detection or misidentification of cryptic bloom events. This limitation, combined with an alert delay of approximately 24 hours, is particularly critical along sensitive coastlines, where summer tourism exceeds millions of visitors and exposure risk is therefore amplified. In this context, Ostreopsis sp. 9 (formerly known as Ostreopsis cf. siamensis) was already known to occur along the Basque shoreline. In 2021, the first detection of the toxic species Ostreopsis cf. ovata coincided with reports of respiratory and dermal irritation among beach users, prompting investigations into the occurrence and composition of Ostreopsis blooms in the area. These recurrent health events led to targeted surveys that confirmed the presence of Ostreopsis blooms, including Ostreopsis cf. ovata. In response, a molecular surveillance strategy based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) was developed and optimized for the specific detection and quantification of O. cf. ovata and Ostreopsis sp. 9 in environmental matrices. The assay targets the rDNA region and enables rapid (4 hours), highly sensitive and species-resolved detection that complements and extends classical microscopy-based monitoring. In this presentation, we present an operational qPCR workflow integrated into a monitoring framework designed to resolve cryptic bloom dynamics and improve the discrimination of co-occurring Ostreopsis taxa. This approach provides refined insights into temporal and spatial species succession and supports the identification of environmental drivers associated with bloom development. This patented 4 hours-methodology constitutes a significant advance in the operational monitoring of toxic benthic microalgae, with direct applications for coastal risk management (beach closures), public health protection and ecosystem resilience.
 

With more than 10,000 water bodies, Michigan is a water wonderland. Learn about how State of Michigan agencies respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the state’s waters and how beach managers can play an integral role in HABs response. The presentation will provide an overview of the program, discuss what we know about HABs in Michigan and their health impacts, and explore the resources available to support protecting public health. We will end with a discussion of the audience’s experiences with HABs in their work.

Abstract: This presentation will provide an overview of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Michigan and review HAB reports and associated illnesses since 2015. Impacts on human and animal health, plus best practices for avoiding negative impacts will be explored.  With more than 10,000 lakes and 300 named rivers in the state, Michigan has worked hard to prioritize protection of public health while conserving agency resources when responding to blooms. The State of Michigan’s Interagency HABs Workgroup (a collaborative effort of the Michigan departments of Health and Human Services, Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Natural Resources plus local health departments) response structure will be presented as well as partner contributions. Finally, we will review State of Michigan and partner resources available to support HABs communication and engagement. We will end with an open discussion of the audience’s experiences with HABs in their work, asking for input on gaps in resources, knowledge and engagement. 
 

Microcystin exposure at recreational beaches is often evaluated through water monitoring alone, but beach users and workers may encounter cyanotoxins through additional pathways. This presentation will highlight two emerging exposure routes at Lake Erie beaches: inhalation of aerosolized microcystin and contact with contaminated foreshore sands affected by beach grooming. Nasal swab monitoring showed that microcystin can be detected in workers during bloom conditions, while paired sand sampling showed that mechanical grooming may redistribute microcystin containing organic material across the foreshore. Together, these findings suggest that beach health risk assessments should consider water, air, and sand as connected exposure environments.

Abstract: Microcystin (MC) in recreational beach environments remains understudied, particularly where aerosol exposure and shoreline management might influence human health risk. Human exposure to MC at recreational beaches is often evaluated through water monitoring alone, but multiple factors, including aerosolization and beach management practices, can result in novel routes of MC exposure.  The potential for inhalation exposure to aerosolized MC was determined by collecting nasal swabs throughout a bloom season from a cohort of workers consistently in contact with impacted Lake Erie waters. The MC mass on each swab was determined using Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent-Assays (ELISA) and showed that patterns of nasal MC concentrations typically trends observed in the water, increasing as the bloom progressed, and decreasing as the bloom subsided.  Nasal MC masses ranged from below the detection limit to 5.3 ng per participant, while MC concentrations in water MC ranged from below detection to 18.5 ng mL-1.  While our results demonstrate that aerosolized MC can be an exposure risk, recent work also suggests that beach sands can serve as a sink for MC containing cyanobacterial material. Beach management typically includes algal wrack removal through mechanical grooming, which can potentially alter the distribution of MC-contaminated organic material across the foreshore. Therefore, paired, foreshore sand samples collected from Maumee Bay State Park Beach (Oregon, Ohio) before and after grooming were analyzed for MC concentration (ELISA) and organic matter content to determine how beach management impacts distribution of MC and organic matter in foreshore sands.  Results showed that 80% of post-groom samples contained higher MC concentrations than paired pre-groom samples, with 60% of samples approaching nearly two-fold greater MC concentrations after grooming. Organic matter content was 53% lower, on average, after grooming, but also more spatially homogeneous, indicating redistribution of algal wrack across the beach surface rather than complete removal.  Together, these findings indicate that the potential for MC exposure extends beyond primary water contact and that both aerosol exposure and shoreline management practices should be considered when evaluating recreational beach health risks and beach management strategies.
 

Every Michigan coastal community is unique, and has assets worth protecting. In 2025 the Van Buren Conservation District conducted coastal resilience outreach and education in Van Buren County (VBC) coastal communities. Through planning a successful "Dune Day" event, developing a multi-faceted library display, designing an educational mailer, building relationships with local leaders, and attending municipal meetings to garner community input, we always kept our intended audience at the forefront of our minds. As is the case with most Michigan coastal communities, VBC's audience is diverse to say the least. This presentation will focus on some of the key coastal resilience take-aways we learned through our project research, and the steps we took to ensure our efforts were accessible to ALL of our residents.

Abstract: In 2025 the Van Buren Conservation District conducted coastal resilience outreach and education in Van Buren County (VBC) coastal communities. Through planning a successful ""Dune Day"" event, developing a multi-faceted library display, designing an educational mailer, building relationships with local leaders, and attending municipal meetings to garner community input, we always kept our intended audience at the forefront of our minds. As is the case with most Michigan coastal communities, VBC's audience is diverse to say the least. This presentation will focus on some of the key coastal resilience take-aways we learned through our project research, and the steps we took to ensure our efforts were accessible to ALL of our residents.     Some research-based, coastal resilience-strengthening actions we may encourage coastal leaders to share with their communities include: businesses adopting heat safety protocols for their employees who work outdoors as summers continue to get hotter, building away from shorelines and reducing impervious surfaces, maintaining septic systems, avoiding invasive plants and planting native plants instead, enrolling in conservation easements, volunteering and participating in local decision-making, making emergency prevention/response plans if your home is close to the shore, staying on trails while hiking, cleaning boats between water bodies, and planting cover crops and avoiding tilling. We may also touch on some of the realities of coastal defense structures, acknowledging pros, cons, and potential alternative options.     The second part of the presentation will focus on the steps we took to successfully conduct outreach and education to a broad audience. VBC’s coastal communities are diverse, with varying socioeconomic levels, ages, education backgrounds, and a large population of spanish-speakers. We tried to reach this wide array of people in a few different ways.1) We gathered community feedback/ideas by connecting with local leaders and speaking at local municipal meetings. 2) We made spanish versions of our educational materials widely available. 3) We utilized Hemingway Editor (free online tool), and went through an extensive editing process internally, to develop educational materials that were readable and accessible to a broad audience. 4) Lastly, we advertised our events in multiple ways because we understand that not everyone gets their news the same way."
 

The Michigan Coastal Management Program and Michigan State University Coastal Processes and Geomorphology Lab are collaborating to launch a community science program that engages Michigan coastal communities in collecting data for education and management. A pilot project with the Bridgman Coastal Resiliency Committee at Weko Beach focuses on monitoring beach and foredune recovery following high lake levels between 2013 and 2020. After significant erosion during peak water levels, the beach has widened and dunes are beginning to reform, creating an opportunity to study recovery processes. Community members collect elevation data using Apple LiDAR and Ground Control Points, enabling repeated mapping and analysis of changes over time. Initial results from late 2025 to early 2026 show measurable sand deposition driven by winter winds, demonstrating both dune recovery and the effectiveness of this community-based research approach.

Abstract:The Michigan Coastal Management Program (MCMP) and the Michigan State University (MSU) Coastal Processes and Geomorphology (CPG) Lab are partnering to launch community science opportunities in coastal communities throughout Michigan over the next several years. The overall aim of this program is to work with coastal communities to co-produce data that are useful to the community for educational purposes and/or for management decisions. Our team is currently partnering with the Bridgman Coastal Resiliency Committee on a pilot project at Weko Beach in Bridgman, MI. The aim is to work with the community to collect data on beach and foredune recovery after high water levels and help them understand the unique coastal processes for their beach. Prior to the high lake levels of 2013-2020, the foredunes on the south end of Weko Beach extended much further lakeward (~20-40 m). As water level rose to a peak in 2020, the dunes were inundated with water and subjected to wave erosion. Now that water level has lowered, the beach has widened, and the foredune has begun to recolonize the bare sand, creating an opportunity to monitor dune rebuilding. By periodically mapping the elevation of this area, we can discern the conditions that lead to dune recovery, which will provide important insight into the resilience of these systems and how best to preserve them in the future. Elevation data are collected with Apple Lidar by scanning the study area with an iPad. The LIDAR uses a laser to collect elevation measurements that can then be used to create a digital model of the site. Ground Control Points (GCPs), which are black and white tiles affixed to metal poles are placed before each survey. The position and elevation of these GCPs were surveyed with a GPS at the beginning of the project and are then used to reference our LIDAR data to real geographic coordinates. By placing these semi-permanent GCPs, we can process any LIDAR data collected with the iPad by community members without having to survey in new GCPs each time. Mapping the survey site many times throughout the year allows us to compare maps and find changes in elevation (gain or loss of sand). Members of the Bridgman Shoreline Committee have been trained to collect Apple Lidar data and send it back to the MSU team for processing.  The initial Apple LIDAR survey took place on October 27, 2025, and then the community volunteer mapped the site again on March 9, 2026. These scans were processed into Digital Elevation Models (DEM), which were then subtracted to detect elevation changes. Between 10/27/2025 and 3/9/2026 positive elevation change occurred at the site which indicates deposition of sand around the dune grasses. Deposition of sand throughout the site ranged from 0.25-0.4 m and can be attributed to strong onshore winds during the winter. This initial year of data collection confirmed the benefits of the community science-based approach for promoting coastal resilience by stimulating relationships and generating datasets that address fundamental coastal science questions.
 

The session will provide an overview of the annually hosted Lake Erie Awareness Day celebration created to support family-friendly, environmental education-driven tourism to the Lake Erie islands. Partnership development, media engagement, and event marketing lessons learned will be shared. Event activities for diverse audiences will be highlighted in this session along with strategies for large-scale education-focused event execution.  

Abstract: Lake Erie Awareness Day (LEAD) was founded to support family-friendly and proenvironmental science-driven tourism to South Bass Island, Ohio. Started in 2021, with funding support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program and the Center for Great Lakes Literacy, LEAD highlights the important work of island environmental, historical, and cultural education partners while fostering hands-on, community-engaged Great Lakes Environmental Literacy programming. The event, part of the Island’s Green Week, has grown to include dozens of statewide and regional education partners, island businesses, and tourism bureaus. Hundreds of people visit the Island each year specifically to attend the annual LEAD festivities. Now in partnership with Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, Ohio Sea Grant and The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory have grown the event through increased media coverage, event sponsorship, and participation from interested education, business, and tourism entities. This session will provide an overview of how to use tourism activities to foster Great Lakes Environmental Literacy education and outreach programming in coastal areas. Strategies for media engagement, marketing tips, and partnership and sponsorship development will be highlighted. Science-based educational activities, appropriate for all ages, in diverse teaching environments, will be shared.  
 

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, enacted by Congress in 2000, aims to protect public health in coastal recreational waters. The Texas Beach Watch (TBW) program of the Texas General Land Office currently monitors water quality for Enterococcus bacteria at over 172 beach sites. To enhance public accessibility and decision-support capabilities, an interactive statewide AI-enabled Enterococcus predictor (ePredictor) was developed, deployed, and evaluated. The development process and features will be presented, including an introduction to the heat map for displaying high-alert locations in real time, along with linear plots of observed data and model predictions. 

Abstract: The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, enacted by Congress in 2000, aims to protect public health in coastal recreational waters. The Act established uniform criteria for testing, monitoring, and notifying the public of potential coastal recreation water issues. It further mandates that states, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), develop and implement programs to monitor coastal recreation waters adjacent to public beaches for pathogens and pathogen indicators, and to notify the public if water quality standards are exceeded. In July 2001, the Office of the Governor designated the Texas General Land Office (GLO) as the lead state agency for implementing the BEACH Act's provisions in Texas, building upon the existing Beach Watch Program. Initiated in the late 1990s, this program began as a water-quality monitoring initiative funded by the Coastal Management Program. The Texas Beach Watch (TBW) program currently monitors water quality for Enterococcus bacteria at over 172 beach sites. After the successful development, deployment, and evaluation of the AI-enabled Enterococcus predictor (ePredictor) in 2024, the GLO and the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi expanded the system for statewide operational use. To enhance public accessibility and decision-support capabilities, an interactive statewide heat map was developed to display high-alert locations in real time, accompanied by linear plots of observed data and model predictions. The ePredictor is accessible from the project site (https://enterococcus.today) and from app stores (ePredict). Using statistical analyses, several models were developed and employed to predict forward. It was clear that no single model performs best across all sites and seasons. Model performance monitoring continues, and when required, the models are adjusted to improve performance. This presentation summarizes the development phases, publication, and performance of the AI and machine learning (AI/ML) model underlying ePredictor. The ePredictor serves as an additional tool to expedite the dissemination of beach water-quality information to agencies and stakeholders.
 

Three years of field work with volunteers across the Lake Erie watershed, testing whether Roth R-Cards can give communities a reliable, affordable way to check if their local swimming spots can make them sick. We've compared results against established lab methods with partners at Niagara College, McMaster, and Swim Drink Fish, and learned a lot about what works in real-world conditions. The short version: community scientists can generate meaningful E. coli data at beaches nobody else is watching, and we're here to share what we've learned.

Abstract: Millions of Canadians swim at beaches, rivers, and informal swimming spots that nobody monitors. When formal monitoring programs are stretched thin, communities are often left guessing about whether the water is safe. Over the past three years, Water Rangers’ Lake Erie Guardians program has been working on a practical answer to that problem. We've been developing, field-testing, and validating a community-based E. coli monitoring approach using Roth Biosciences R-Cards, a low-cost tool that volunteers can use with a small incubator and basic field equipment. Our goal isn't to replace accredited labs or formal beach programs. It's to give communities a credible, affordable screening method that can help them answer the question they're actually asking: "Should I be worried about swimming here?" We've tested both the 1 mL and 3 mL R-Card formats, working through sampling protocols, incubation procedures, result interpretation, quality assurance, and training materials with real volunteers in real conditions, including rural and remote communities with no access to lab facilities. Partners at Niagara College, McMaster University, and Swim Drink Fish helped us compare R-Card results against IDEXX Colilert and IDEXX Tecta across a range of contamination levels and environmental conditions. This presentation shares what we've learned: where R-Cards perform well, where they have limits, how volunteers responded to the protocols, and what it actually takes to build a community microbial monitoring program from the ground up. We'll talk through the practical stuff too, like challenges we didn't anticipate and how we worked through them. Community science can't replace formal beach monitoring. But it can find the gaps, flag potential problems, prioritize sites for further investigation, and put communities in a position to advocate for cleaner water. In a region where so many swimming spots go unwatched, that matters.