The Impact of Bacteria Source Tracking on the Development of a Holistic Watershed Management Plan for the Vernon River Basin

In 2013, the City of Savannah, Georgia, collaborated with Georgia Southern University and other stakeholders in the area to draft a Watershed Management plan focusing on the reduction of human bacteria sources by utilizing targeted fluorometry sampling to detect optical brighteners. Aside from determining the sources of anthropogenic bacteria, the project also included the development of best management practices (BMPs) to target and reduce human sources in the Casey Canal and Hayners Creek. This paper summarizes the experiences and conclusions of this project, while also addressing how the project\u27s outcomes may potentially impact bacterial water resource protection and management in the basin