Tribal Tidbits: 5.15.08
Water Quality Bacteria 101
By: Bryan Duggan
Tribal Water and Environmental Specialist
You would have to be a sleepy salamander under a big fat log to not notice the great
weather which has descended upon us; sunny skies, warm days, and the flowers which
herald the warm summer months to come, are here in full bloom. The wet spring seems
like a distant memory compared to these beautiful blue days around us. Enlivened, we
grab our sun block and toys and start thinking about enjoying the long days outside, and
perhaps swimming within the Empire Reservation waters.
These warm spring days also means a seasonal shift for the Tribe’s Land Resources and
Environmental Service’s (LRES) departmental water quality staff as well. Starting this
June, Bryan Duggan the Tribe’s new Water and Environmental Specialist (WES) will
begin collecting water samples from select Empire Reservation Reservoirs, wetlands, and
creeks to monitor for total coli form bacteria.
Total coli form bacteria are a collection of relatively harmless microorganisms that live in
large numbers in the intestines of man and warm- and cold-blooded animals. They aid in
the digestion of food. A specific subgroup of this collection is the fecal coli form
bacteria, the most common member being Escherichia coli or E. coli. These organisms
may be separated from the total coli form group by their ability to grow at elevated
temperatures and are associated only with the fecal material of warm-blooded animals.
Why is it important to test for this in our waters? By collecting and analyzing a small
sample of water, the Tribe can account for the presence or absence of E. coli and
Enterococci indicator pathogens using a simple laboratory test. These pathogens are like
the siphon of a clam, they indicate the presence of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and
protozoans. The presence of fecal coli form bacteria in aquatic environments indicates
that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals. At
the time this occurred, the source water may have been contaminated by pathogens or
disease producing bacteria or viruses which can also exist in fecal material. The presence
of fecal contamination is an indicator that a potential health risk exists for individuals
exposed to this water.
These pathogens can also cause cloudy water, unpleasant odors, and increased oxygen
demand (reducing levels of dissolved oxygen). Sources of bacteria include wastewater
treatment plants, septic systems, storm water runoff, animal carcasses, and runoff from
animal manure and manure storage areas. E. coli and Enterococci levels can be measured
and monitored in fresh and marine and fresh waters respectfully. When State Park
officials close the local Sunset Beach State Park due to bacterial warnings it is because of
elevated levels of the aforementioned pathogens.
Rest assured however that the reservation waters are in good hands as the LRES staff will
collect and analyze water samples from the Reservation waters twice a month from June
through October. The results will be utilized in Tribal reports, from advisories when and
if conditions may affect public health and safety, to using the data collected over time to
determine the overall quality of the waters of the Coquille Tribe. Historically, the only
water quality bacterial advisories issued by the tribe have been for upper Fourth Creek,
where the combination of low stream flows and high beaver activity (i.e. defecating in the
water) resulted in high levels of coli form bacteria.
The importance of good water quality goes beyond our uses for recreation, but also
affects the beneficial uses of public water supply, agricultural irrigation, and providing
healthy habitat for the diverse fish and wildlife organisms found on the Empire
Reservation. Clean, fresh water is the common unifying factor that we all share, living
and playing on Tribal lands.