2024 Watershed Report Card
Current Assessment
Based on monthly grab samples collected Apr–Nov by OWC Reserve staff and Erie Conservation District volunteers. Continuous Lume monitoring would provide 15-minute resolution to refine these grades.
C
Creek Grade
Excessive nutrients & sediment runoff from 66% agricultural land use
B
Estuary Grade
Wetland filtering effect measurably improves water quality downstream
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With Continuous Monitoring
15-min Lume TLF data would capture E. coli dynamics, storm pulses, and diurnal patterns that monthly grab sampling misses
Monitoring Network
Proposed Lume Deployment Sites
Ten stations along the creek-to-lake transect and tributaries, co-located with existing SWMP infrastructure. Each Lume sensor uses tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) to estimate E. coli concentrations at 15-minute intervals, with supporting turbidity and temperature readings.
Station Details
Site-by-Site Overview
Synthetic 48-hour continuous data based on published watershed report card findings and SWMP parameters. Primary metric is E. coli (cfu/100mL) estimated via TLF, with supporting turbidity and temperature readings.
Continuous Data Value
What Lume Sensors Would Reveal
These synthetic charts demonstrate how 15-minute continuous monitoring captures dynamics that monthly grab sampling cannot.
72-Hour E. coli Trend
Synthetic continuous TLF-estimated E. coli across all stations — agricultural inflow sites consistently exceed the 235 cfu single-sample maximum while the estuary's wetland filtering brings downstream sites toward compliance
Synthetic data. Actual Lume TLF deployment would capture real diurnal E. coli cycles, storm spikes, and CSO-driven pulses at 15-minute resolution.
Storm Event: E. coli & Bacterial Pulse
Simulated 2.6-inch rain event (matching Aug 2024 largest storm). E. coli spikes at Berlin Rd inflow from agricultural runoff and septic failures, then attenuates through the estuary.
Synthetic storm response. In 2024, zero storm events were captured by monthly grab sampling. Continuous Lume monitoring would have captured all of them.
Diurnal Pattern: E. coli
24-hour average E. coli cycle — bacterial concentrations peak in early morning (reduced UV die-off) and dip in afternoon (solar inactivation). Critical for timing recreational advisories.
Synthetic diurnal pattern. Creek and upper estuary sites show persistent exceedance of the 126 cfu geometric mean standard, consistent with 2024 report card bacteria findings.
30-Day Rolling E. coli Geomean
Synthetic rolling geometric mean across the transect. Agricultural and septic-influenced creek sites remain above the 126 cfu standard; estuary filtering progressively reduces concentrations toward the lake.
Synthetic data. Continuous geomean tracking would support Ohio EPA 303(d) impairment reassessment and document the wetland's role in bacterial attenuation.
Sensor Validation
Lume TLF vs. Colilert Lab Validation
Lume sensors use tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) to estimate E. coli in real time. Validation against IDEXX Colilert lab samples would be performed at all 10 stations, building on the Boulder Creek pilot (R² = 0.67, 92% classification accuracy, 334 paired samples).
>0.85
Target R² (TLF vs. Colilert, based on Boulder Creek pilot)
200+
Target paired samples (across 10 sites, one season)
>90%
Risk category accuracy target (Safe / Caution / High)
Projected TLF vs. Colilert Correlation
Synthetic paired measurements showing expected agreement between Lume TLF estimate and IDEXX Colilert lab analysis for E. coli
E. coli Geomean by Station
Synthetic season geometric means across the creek-to-lake transect, with supporting turbidity and temperature averages
Real-Time Alerts
What Automated Monitoring Would Flag
Synthetic alert feed demonstrating the types of notifications Lume sensors would generate for reserve staff and watershed managers.