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Scientists to Study Flow of Contaminants

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 18:00 CDT

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - Scientists will put red dye in the Grand River to study how it helps to transport E. coli and other potentially hazardous contaminants to Lake Michigan's beaches.

The tracer dye, known as Rhodamine-WT, will be placed in the river near the U.S. 31 drawbridge on June 6 and again on July 18, said Sonia Joseph, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Sea Grant, a joint program of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.

Those dates could change if the weather does not cooperate, she told The Muskegon Chronicle for a story published Tuesday.

The dye will not harm humans or wildlife, or stain boats, river rocks or other objects with which it comes into contact, researchers said. They will track it from aircraft and boats, hoping to learn how wind, currents, waves and water temperatures affect the movement of contaminants.

The research team also includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Georgia Institute of Technology. NOAA's Human Health Initiative will fund the project.

Michael McCormick, an NOAA oceanographer, said 15 gallons of dye will be placed in the river over three hours during each experiment. He said the goal is to develop forecasting tools to keep boaters and swimmers safe from contaminants.

Aerial photos will be taken of the Grand River while two boats with tracking devices follow the dye's progress to Lake Michigan. The dye will travel about two miles from the bridge to where the river empties into the lake in Grand Haven.

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Information from: The Muskegon Chronicle, http://www.mlive.com/muchronicle

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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