During the Fourth of July weekend, 10 Michigan beaches were closed due to high bacteria levels. In the days following the holiday, elevated E. coli levels forced a “no body contact” advisory at Silver Lake State Park’s Lighthouse beach, and temporary closures at Pleasant Lake Manor and Lake Oakland Shores.
Supported by a Research Universities for Michigan Livable Futures Water Collaboration Grant, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University are field-testing a new portable instrument called Bactiquick, which could change the way the state monitors its shorelines.
The RU4M Bactiquick project demonstrates the power of community-engaged science and the necessity of networks like MiNet in solving some of Michigan’s most pressing water challenges. As Ram noted, the four project leads complement one another with skills ranging from data integration and software development to hands-on user training and bacterial identification.
By combining these skills, the researchers hope to shift water safety from a reactive process to a proactive system.