Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the potential for reconstructed wetlands to remediate fecal coliform loading in an agricultural watershed

  • FRESHWATER WETLANDS RESTORATION
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Grand Lake St Marys (GLSM) is one of the most hypereutrophic lakes in North America and was officially declared distressed in 2011 as a result of excess nutrient runoff from primarily agricultural cropland and livestock facilities. Concurrently, the watershed has also struggled with excessive fecal coliform loads most evident by the routine public warnings regarding colony counts in GLSM. This study evaluated in stream trends and the potential for reconstructed wetlands along Coldwater Creek to reduce coliforms in the watershed. Non-Escherichia coli coliforms in Coldwater Creek showed a seasonal pattern, with a winter low coincident with the distressed watershed winter ban on manure application. E. coli coliform loads did not show the same seasonal pattern, but may have been offset by wildlife fecal inputs. When water flowed into the wetland, concentrations of total coliforms were reduced by 40%, mainly driven by residence time. When the wetland was a net sink, it reduced E. coli by 71% and non-E. coli coliforms by 51%. Unfortunately, it also served as a source for total coliforms 4 weeks of the year. Treating all tributaries into GLSM would require the equivalent of ~ 20× the current wetland area in the watershed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data are available in the appendix.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Akaike, H., 1974. A new look at the statistical model identification. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 19: 716–723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, D. B., R. Confesor, D. E. Ewing, L. T. Johnson, J. W. Kramer & B. J. Merryeld, 2014. Phosphorus loading to Lake Erie from the Maumee, Sandusky, and Cuyahoga Rivers: the importance of bioavailability. Journal of Great Lakes Research 40: 502–517.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beutel, M. W., V. Whritenour & E. Brouillard, 2013. Fecal coliform removal in a lightly loaded surface-flow constructed treatment wetland polishing agricultural runoff. Water Science and Technology 68(4): 909–915.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Birch, G., C. Matthai, M. Fazeli & J. Suh, 2004. Efficiency of a constructed wetland in removing contaminants from stormwater. Wetlands 24(2): 459–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buij, R., T. Melman, M. Loonen & A. Fox, 2017. Balancing ecosystem function, services and disservices resulting from expanding goose populations. Ambio 46: 301–318.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Carberry, B., T. A. Langen & M. R. Twiss, 2021. Surface water quality differs between functionally similar restored and natural wetlands of the Saint Lawrence River Valley in New York. Land 10: 676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallas, S., B. Scheffe & G. Ho, 2004. Reedbeds for greywater treatment—case study in Santa Elena-Monteverde, Costa Rica. Central America. Ecological Engineering 23(1): 55–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dendup, T., D. Tshering, P. Mafchan, I. M. Ghalley, P. Wangmo & T. Sunwar, 2021. Efficiency of natural wetland in wastewater treatment: A case study of Singye Karm Nature Reserve wetland at Sherubtse College, Kanglung, Bhutan. Sherub Doenme 14: 5–21.

  • Díaz, F., T. O’Geen & A. Dahlgren, 2010. Efficacy of constructed wetlands for removal of bacterial contamination from agricultural return flows. Agricultural Water Management 97(11): 1813–1821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey, S. K., E. Topp, B. R. Ball, M. Edwards, N. Gottschall, M. Sunohara, E. Zoski & D. R. Lapen, 2013. Tile drainage management influences on surface-water and groundwater quality following liquid manure application. Journal of Environmental Quality 42(3): 881–892.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fries, J. S., G. W. Characklis & R. T. Noble, 2006. Attachment of fecal indicator bacteria to particles in the Neuse River Estuary. NC. Journal of Environmental Engineering 132(10): 1338–1345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Armisen, T. & P. Servais, 2009. Partitioning and fate of particle-associated E. coli in river waters. Water Environment Research 81: 21–28.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance (GLWWA), 2008. Grand Lake St. Marys/Wabash River watershed action plan: A partnership between Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Darke, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties and the city of Celina. https://water.ohiodnr.gov/portals/soilwater/downloads/wap/Wabash.pdf.

  • Green, M., P. Griffin, J. Seabridge & D. Dhobie, 1997. Removal of bacteria in subsurface flow wetlands. Water Science and Technology 35(5): 109–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hathaway, J. M., W. F. Hunt & S. Jadlocki, 2009. Indicator bacteria removal in storm-water best management practices in Charlotte, North Carolina. Journal of Environmental Engineering 135(12): 1275–1285.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoorman, J., T. Hone, T. Sudman, T. Dirksen, T. Iles & R. Islam, 2008. Agricultural impacts on lake and stream quality in Grand Lake St. Marys, Western Ohio. Water Air Soil Pollution 193: 309–322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, C., N. Chaplinski, M. O’Driscoll, T. Kelley & S. Richards, 2014. Nutrient and Escherichia coli attenuation in a constructed stormwater wetland in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Environment and Natural Resources Research 4(3): 12–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, T. T. D., W. J. Mitsch, J. F. Martin & J. Lee, 2017. Towards sustainable protection of public health: the role of an urban wetland as a frontline safeguard of pathogen and antibiotic resistance spread. Ecological Engineering 108: 547–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kast, J, 2018. Manure management in the Maumee River Watershed and watershed modeling to assess impacts on Lake Erie’s water quality. Master of Science Thesis – The Ohio State University.

  • Jacquemin, S. J. & M. S. Cubberley, 2022. Documentation of a massive fish die off on Grand Lake St. Marys, with notes on long-term changes in fish assemblage and watershed habitat over the past century. The American Midland Naturalist 187(1): 104–112.

  • Jacquemin, S. J., L. Johnson, T. Dirksen & G. McGlinch, 2018. Changes in water quality of Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed following implementation of a distressed watershed rules package. Journal of Environmental Quality 47(1): 113–120.

  • Jacquemin, S. J., G. McGlinch, T. Dirksen & A. Clayton, 2020. On the potential for saturated buffers in northwest Ohio to remediate nutrients from agricultural runoff. PeerJ 8: e9007.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson, R., R. Gordon, K. Sharples, G. Stratton & A. Madani, 2002. Movement and persistence of fecal bacteria in agricultural soils and subsurface drainage water: a review. Canadian Biosystem Engineering 44: 1.1–1.9.

  • Jeng, H. C., A. J. England & H. B. Bradford, 2005. Indicator organisms associated with stormwater suspended particles and estuarine sediment. Journal of Environmental Science and Health 40(4): 779–791.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knox, A. K., R. A. Dahlgren, K. W. Tate & E. R. Atwill, 2008. Efficacy of natural wetlands to retain nutrient sediment and microbial pollutants. Journal of Environmental Quality 37(5): 1837–1846. 

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koerner, J. W., T. A. Bookhout & K. E. Bednarik, 1974. Movements of Canada geese color-marked near southwestern Lake Erie. The Journal of Wildlife Management 38(2): 275–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Land, M., W. Granéli, A. Grimvall, C. C. Hoffman, W. J. Mitsch, K. S. Tonderski & J. T. A. Verhoeven, 2016. How effective are created or restored freshwater wetlands for nitrogen and phosphorus removal? A Systematic Review. Environmental Evidence 5: 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mallin, M. A., K. E. Williams, E. C. Esham & P. Lowe, 2000. Effect of human development on bacteriological water quality in coastal watersheds. Ecological Applications 10(4): 1047–1056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meals, D. W. & D. C. Braun, 2006. Demonstration of methods to reduce E. coli runoff from dairy manure application sites. Journal of Environmental Quality 35: 1088–1100.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meng, Z., C. Gayani, R. Henry, A. Deletic, P. Kolotelo & D. McCarthy, 2018. Stormwater constructed wetlands: A source or a sink of Campylobacter spp. Water Research 131(15): 219–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, A., B. L. Benham & S. Mostaghimi, 2008. Bacterial transport from agricultural lands fertilized with animal manure. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 189: 127–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohio Department of Health, 2020a. BeachGuard. https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/bathing-beach-monitoring/BeachGuard/BeachGuard.

  • Ohio Department of Health, 2020b. Waterborne Diseases. https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/outbreak-response-bioterrorism-investigation-team/resources/Waterborne

  • Ohio EPA, 2007. Total maximum daily loads for the Beaver Creek and Grand Lake St. Marys watershed. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Columbus.

  • Pachepsky, Y. A. & D. R. Shelton, 2011. Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms in freshwater and estuarine sediments. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 41(12): 1067–1110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, J. & C. Hunter, 2000. Removal of enteric bacteria in a surface flow constructed wetland in Yorkshire. England. Water Research 34(6): 1941–1947.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, R. P., D. B. Baker, J. P. Crumrine & A. M. Stearns, 2010. Unusually large loads in 2007 from the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers, tributaries to Lake Erie. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 65(6): 450–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saini, R., L. J. Halverson & J. C. Lorimor, 2003. Rainfall timing and frequency influence on leaching of Escherichia coli RS2G through soil following manure application. Journal of Environmental Quality 32(5): 1865–1872.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soupir, M. L., S. Mostaghimi, E. R. Yagow, C. Hagedorn & D. H. Vaughan, 2006. Transport of fecal bacteria from poultry litter and cattle manures applied to pastureland. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 169: 125–136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, T. J., J. A. Moore, D. R. Thomas, E. Mallery, K. U. Snyder, M. Wustenberg, J. Wustenberg, S. D. Mackey & D. L. Moore, 2007. Efficacy of vegetated buffers in preventing transport of fecal coliform bacteria from pasturelands. Environmental Management 40: 958–965.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA, 2009. National Lakes Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usher, R. L., J. Wood, P. M. Bumpers, S. J. Wenger & A. D. Rosemond, 2020. Streamwater nutrients stimulate respiration and breakdown of standardized detrital substrates across a landscape gradient: effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon quality. Freshwater Science 39(1): 101–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Visoth, T., M. Yim, S. Vathna, K. Irvine & T. Koottatep, 2010. Efficiency of Phnom Penh's natural wetlands in treating wastewater discharges. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution 7(3): 39–48.

  • Wu, S., P. N. Carvalho, J. A. Müller, V. R. Manoj & R. Dong, 2016. Sanitation in constructed wetlands: a review on the removal of human pathogens and fecal indicators. Science of the Total Environment 541: 8–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zurita, F. & A. J. Álvarez, 2015. Performance of three pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetlands for total coliforms and Escherichia coli removal from primary effluent—a 2-year study in a subtropical climate. Journal of Water and Health 13(2): 446–458.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Dr. Laura Johnson of the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University for sharing long term nutrient monitoring data for Coldwater Creek. In addition, thank you to the Wright State University – Lake Campus Research Initiative for providing partial funding for this undergraduate student driven project.

Funding

A portion of the funding for this project was from the Wright State University – Lake Campus Research Initiative undergraduate student research grant program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wright State University – Lake Campus, Celina, OH, 45822, USA

    Stephen J. Jacquemin, Jocelyn Birt, Zachary Senger, Bradley Axe, Benjamin Strang, Conner Ewing & Brittany Kinney

  2. Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA

    Silvia E. Newell

Authors
  1. Stephen J. Jacquemin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jocelyn Birt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zachary Senger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bradley Axe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Benjamin Strang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Conner Ewing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Brittany Kinney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Silvia E. Newell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen J. Jacquemin.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

All authors have read and consent to publication of this article.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Guest editors: Haitao Wu, Junhong Bai, Yongjiu Cai &

Li Feng / Freshwater Wetlands: Biodiversity, Functioning, Restoration and Utilization

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (XLSX 51 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jacquemin, S.J., Birt, J., Senger, Z. et al. On the potential for reconstructed wetlands to remediate fecal coliform loading in an agricultural watershed. Hydrobiologia 850, 3879–3891 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-05078-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-05078-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation