E. coli Bacteria Found Along the Rio Grande Near Albuquerque is Focus of Student Research (continued)

By Catherine Ortega Klett, NM WRRI Program Manager

For this project, James Fluke will quantify processes controlling bacterial exceedances in the Rio Grande near Albuquerque by monitoring and modeling the growth potential and decay rates for E. coli bacteria in the Rio Grande main channel and streambed sediments. These parameters will be used to estimate the bacterial load contribution from resuspension of streambed sediments during different flow conditions. The results of this research will benefit discharging entities’ contamination reduction strategies and water users’ health by providing a better understanding of the sources and sinks of E. coli along the reach throughout the year.

The NM WRRI student grant started on October 1, 2016 and James presented a poster on his research at the 61st Annual New Mexico Water Conference in Silver City on October 7. James is from Bernalillo, New Mexico and received a BS degree in civil engineering (concentration in hydraulics and hydrology) from the UNM in 2016. He plans to complete a master’s degree in May 2018 and in the future wants to study emergent water and health issues in developing nations.