Lake Michigan Beach Clean Up Goes to the Dogs
Unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria have been seeping into the Galien River and its watershed from nearby homes in Berrien County that have failing septic systems or, in the case of some older homes, no septic systems or sewage connections at all. The contaminated water travels down the river and into the lake, making the beaches unsafe for swimmers.
And here, closed beaches are more than just an inconvenience. The communities depend on tourism revenue from vacationers flocking to the beaches in the summer to support their local economy.
So why not just upgrade the septic systems? Many residents are unaware that their septic systems could be flowing directly into the Galien River and with septic upgrades costing thousands of dollars, it’s not an affordable option for many in the community.
An Effort The Size Of Lake Michigan
Since 2001, The Conservation Fund has been working with all levels of government, as well as private foundations and nonprofit organizations, to address the water quality issues in the area. The major effort has been focused on the Galien River Watershed, but in the last year, the focus has expanded to include the creeks and streams flowing into Lake Michigan.Our Midwest Director, Peg Kohring, a native of Berrien County, is leading The Conservation Fund’ s large-scale effort to identify and fix the sources of water contamination. Among a team of biologists and scientists, we’re working with an unusual partner—a pair of furry, four-legged friends with a keen sense of smell. Specially trained dogs from Environmental Canine Services LLC are sniffing out the sources of E. coli faster and more accurately than traditional water testing methods. The canines have been a key part of the project and have helped us reduce the number of beach closings and eventually eliminate the threat to human health. Since 2011, the dogs have located 17 sources of sewage along the Galien, all within two miles of popular beaches. In 2013 there were no closings at these beaches due to high E. coli levels.
The Future
The dogs have been an incredibly efficient and cost-effective tool for locating sources of E. coli in the Galien River watershed. However, Peg notes that there is much more to be done, not only on the Galien River, but along 10 other streams as well. If you would like to support our Midwest team’s efforts to clean up southwest Michigan beaches and improve the quality of water for area residents, please contact Peg Kohring to find out how you can get involved or make a donation to the Fund."Using dogs to locate the sources of E. coli along the river has been nothing short of a miracle."— Peg Kohring, The Fund's Midwest Director.
Conservation Acquisition
