This project will address an emerging issue along the coast of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana: microbiological pollution of beach sands due to failing septic systems. We will sample beaches in areas of known septic system failures and the sand for E. coli, human fecal bacterial DNA markers, and common pathogens. Successful execution of this project will result in data that can be used for a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for beachgoers in the area and an experimental framework that can be expanded to examine beach sands in other Indiana coastal communities with high densities of shoreline septic systems.

• Determine the role of green infrastructure (GI) practices in reducing flooding by developing Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment-Low Impact Development (L-THIA-LID) 2.2 models to simulate flooding (peak flow rate) and impacts of GI on reducing flooding
• Identify the long-term performance of GI practices in reducing flooding by improving the model algorithm to simulate GI practice efficiencies considering changes in performance of practices over time
• Enhance the optimization tool for selecting and placing GI practices to account for flooding
• Demonstrate the impacts of GI practice adoption on flooding through use of the improved model in analysis of potential and optimal GI impacts in the Washington Park community in Chicago
• Use the new tool to increase the understanding of impacts of GI practices in reducing flooding by providing outreach through tutorial and video instructional support including to community organizations around Chicago and classes at DePaul University and Purdue University

• Develop geologic soils-based site and surface design research to alleviate flooding in flood-prone urban areas

• Identify key parameters of turbulent flow that influence fish space use and energetic cost of swimming in complex flows found around in-stream structures
• Develop – and evaluate under realistic field conditions – a quantitative model that links key parameters of turbulent flow to energetic cost of swimming

• Develop a historical database of environmental processes and anthropogenic disturbances determined to have caused coastal geomorphic changes for Illinois Beach State Park and Waukegan Beach
• Produce list of probable future (within next 50 years) beach and dune changes for coastal managers
• Engage stakeholders in order to understand how data can be readily visualized and utilized in the planning and decision-making process

Story: Chicago and Milwaukee forecasters have a new tool to monitor potential flash flooding