Bibliography Background About KRIS
Bacteria in Gulf of Maine Atlantic Salmon DPS Watersheds
Both Pugh (2002) and Arter (2004) note that at several locations the Sheepscot River fails to meet Maine DEP water quality standards for Escherichia coli (E. coli). Elevated bacteria levels occurred at four of six impaired sites (Table 2). The same information can be viewed in spatial form in Figure 1, also from Arter (2004). Patterns of impaired values suggest that some problems are tied to point sources while others are more likely from non-point source pollution (NPS). Once again, Halsted (2002) found relationships between low flow and bacteria counts as she had for temperature and D.O. Dill et al. (2002) point out that, although bacteria such as E. coli do not pose a threat of disease to fish, high bacteria counts are often correlated to nutrient inputs from septic systems or farm animals in proximity to streams, which then have ripple impacts on fish and water quality. E. coli is also a concern in the lower Sheepscot because of potential shellfish harvesting. Area closures are often necessary because of high bacteria counts with "approximately 75% of the estuary shoreline below Wiscasset....classified as prohibited, or closed to shellfish harvesting" (Arter, 2004).
Table 2. This table, from Arter (2004), lists locations of chronic water quality impairment in the Sheepscot River basin and gives water quality summaries and comments regarding needs for additional monitoring.
Figure 1. This map from Arter (2004) shows areas of diminished water quality in Sheepscot River. Codes for each site indicate the types of water quality problems that exist and whether the site is listed under the TMDL. Sites with multiple indications of impairment are usually in lower river locations, consistent with Arter's hypothesis that nutrients are accumulating from NPs throughout the watershed. One exception is the reach immediately below Sheepscot Pond, which is affected by the Palermo Hatchery effluent (Arter, 2004).
References
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