Lincoln University

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. in Recent Years, We Have Experienced a Substantial Increase in Demands From Our Stakeholders to Assist in Identifying the Sources of Escherichia Coli (e. Coli) - the Sources of Fecal Pollution - in Both Surface and Groundwater. These Demands Have Been Driven by the Needs for Taking Effective Steps Towards Restoring Water Quality. to Meet the Needs of Our Stakeholders, We Will Enhance Our Capacities via This Project Through Both Research and Extension Activities. the Research Aims to Develop New Methods, Eliminating the Limitations of Current Methods, for Accurately Detecting E. Coli Originating From Agricultural Sources. the Research Team at Lincoln University (LU) Have Already Achieved Success in Developing Two Methods for Identifying E. Coli of Human Origin. Building on This Progress and Collaborating With the Virginia State University (vsu), This Project Aims to Further Extend the Research by Developing Approaches to Detect E. Coli of Livestock Origin. at the Same Time, the Outreach Activities Are Designed to Enhance Awareness and Understanding Among Stakeholders About E. Coli and Fecal Pollution. This Endeavor Will Identify and Clarify Common Public Misconceptions About E. Coli and Fecal Pollution Through Social Media and Summer Workshops. This Project Is the Partnership and Collaborative Efforts of Two 1890 Land-grant Universities, Multiple Federal, State, and Local Agencies, and a Network of Volunteers in Missouri. the Successful Execution of This Project Will Enhance the Capabilities of All Partner Institutions in Fecal Source Tracking, and Thereby Contributing to the Overall Improvement of Water Quality and Public Health.