Media | McLellan Lab

2023 Interviews and News Articles

The McLellan Lab has been conducting testing at South Shore Beach for over 20 years and has found the chosen area for the new beach has better water circulation and lower bacterial contamination than the current beach. Read more about beach rebuild plans here:

DNR Funding New Beach for South Shore Park
After years of closures for E.coli contamination, South Shore Beach in Milwaukee might finally move
– September-October 2023

Multiple interviews with Sandra McLellan on COVID-19 wastewater surveillance and being named a center of excellence in partnership with the state lab of hygiene:

Sandra McLellan Receives New Uihlein Professorship to Expand Research.
– May 2023

2022 Interviews

- - - Multiple interviews with Sandra McLellan on COVID-19 tracking.
      – April 2022
  - - Wisconsin Public Radio interviews Sandra McLellan and others. Sandra talks about monitoring coronavirus outbreaks through city sewage.
      – March 2022
  2021 Interviews
  - - - Video interviews with two of our Master’s students. Lexi Passante: Salt-Loving Bacteria in Milwaukee’s Freshwater. Brigid Meyers: What Factors Help E. Coli Survive on Beaches– School of Freshwater Sciences feature – September 2021
        
        Milwaukee Researcher looks for signs of COVID-19 in human waste
        – NPR interview by Susan Bence – May 2021
      - UW-Milwaukee sewage research could better predict coronavirus outbreaks
        – BizTimes interview by Alex Zank – June 2021
        
        April interview on TMJ4
        
        How Wisconsin Scientists Are Tracking COVID-19 Through Your Toilets
        – Spectrum news1 Milwaukee interview by Maddie Burakoff – January 2021
  2020 Interviews
  - - - UWM team develops process to test wastewater for COVID-19– FOX6 Milwaukee interview by Bill Miston – December 2020
  Shuchen Feng and Adelaide Roguet are postdoctoral researchers in the McLellan lab
  - - - Researchers to track COVID-19 outbreaks by monitoring sewage from Wisconsin communities– Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – June 2020
        
        Natalie Rumball chats about E. coli on NPR Lake Effect– August 2020
        
        Stayin’alive: Long-surviving E. coli strains make identifying contaminated beaches more complex than previously thoughtRead Natalie Rumball’s interview in Sea Grant News! – July 2020
        
        UWM researchers part of COVID-19 wastewater studyTMJ4 Post: Findings will help guide public health policies – July 2020
        
        NEW Water in Green Bay to assist in statewide COVID-19 wastewater study – June 2020
        
        NPR interview with Sandra McLellan – Surveillance of COVID-19 in sewage. – May 2020
  Troye Fox / UWM Photo Services
  
  2019 Interviews
  
  Sandra McLellan shows Governor Tony Evers some river plume water quality data during his tour of UWM-School of Freshwater Sciences
  - - - Milwaukee Independent: Governor Tony Evers applauds economic benefits of new Freshwater Collaborative during scientific tour – August 2019
  2018 Interviews
  
  Sandra McLellan and Ryan Bartelme at South Shore Beach. Current study using fluorescein dye.
  - - - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Entire South Shore Park beach to be moved to avoid E. coli and frequent closings – September 2018
  2017 Interviews
  - Radio Milwaukee: In the Wings with Sandra McLellan – July 2017
  - Wisconsin Public Radio: Great Lakes Scientists Defend Federal Spending On Research – August 2017
  - Milwaukee Public Radio: Lake Michigan Clean Up At Risk If Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Eliminated – March 2017
  2016 Interviews
  - UW-Milwaukee: Microbiologist leads Lake Michigan’s cleanup crew – May 2016
  - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UWM professor taking a deeper dive on beach pollution data – June 2016
  - Vice Motherboard: This Microbiologist Is Saving Wisconsin’s Poopy Beaches With DNA Sequencing – September 2016
  2015 Interviews
  PhD student Danielle Cloutier is interviewed by Chris Gloninger of WISN12 concerning Milwaukee beach closings – July 2015
  
  Ryan Newton is interviewed by Mother Jones about his article showing microbial differences in human populations can be followed in sewage. – March 2015
  - More press on Ryan’s paper:
    
    • Inside Science
    
    • Science
    
    • Nature Reviews
    
    • MedicalXpress
    
    • The Atlantic
    
    • The Blaze
    
    • The Scientist
  2014 Lab Visits
  Sandra McLellan and Senator Tammy Baldwin during the Senator’s “Wisconsin Fresh Coast Water Tour” wrap up – August 2014
  
  USEPA Photo by Eric Vance. Public domain image
  - EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy came to Milwaukee to promote her plan to restore Clean Water Act protections of headwaters. She stopped by for a tour at School of Freshwater Sciences and chatted with a few McLellan Lab grad students (Danielle Cloutier (R) and Kristina Surfus (L), also Shelby LaBuhn from Klump lab (C)) – October 2014
  2014 Interviews
  - Sandra interviewed by WISN12: Growing concerns over contamination underground – November 2014
  - UW-Milwaukee: Research partners work toward a cleaner South Shore – September 2014
  - WISN12: MillerCoors joins with county to help clean South Shore Beach – August 2014
  - FOX6: Cleaning up South Shore Beach: MillerCoors joins UW-Milwaukee in the effort – August 2014
  - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MillerCoors donates $500,000 for South Shore Park work – August 2014
  - Milwaukee Business Journal: MillerCoors promises to fund South Shore Beach cleanup effort, giving $500,000 – August 2014
  - University of Michigan Water Center: Freshwater Perspective: An interview with Dr. Sandra McLellan – June 2014
  - Water Watch Wisconsin: Leaky sewer pipes could export viruses to lakes – May 2014
  - Wisconsin public radio: Report Finds Contaminated Storm Water Around Milwaukee Watersheds – May 2014
  2013
  - WUWM 89.7: South Shore Beach Goes Green for Science – September 2013
  - WISN12: Milwaukee County reopens wading pools, splash pad during heat – August 2013
  - WUWM 89.7: South Shore Beach Water Quality Remains Murky Issue – July 2013
  2012
  - Genetics sequencing center to be added to WATER Institute Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/7/12.
  - Summer Swimtime: Staying healthy at the pool and beach NIH News in Health, 5/12
  - South Shore Beach in Bay View could be moved Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online, 4/13/12
  2011
  - Human fecal bacteria detected in harbor water samples, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/13/11.
    Midwestern states particularly vulnerable to flooding, projected to worsen with climate change, new web tools find, NRDC News Conference, 8/3/11.
  - Dr. Sandra McLellan loves water and the School of Freshwater Science/Make a Difference Week 1, 88.9 Radio, 9/13/11.
  - Cracked sewers bleed fecal germs, Science News, 7/29/11.
  - NRDC: Iowa streams run harder, state faces bigger flood risk, DesMoines Register, 8/3/11.
  - Our Clear Responsibility, MPTV, 5/14/11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUoKTU940B8
  - 3 Surprising Ways Global Warming Could Make You Sick, National Geographic News, 3/1/11.
  2010
  - Researchers link rain and illness, Bay View Compass, 8/30/10.
  - Wisconsin Scientists Fight Oil Spill, WISN 12 News, 8/9/10.
  - Microbes a gauge of Gulf oil spill’s effect, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/26/10.
  - Local Researchers Study Impact of Oil Spill, WUWM News, 6/22/10.
  - Sewage Dumping – Another Assault on Lake Michigan WUWM News, 7/29/10.
  - Climate Change: Believe it Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/9/2010.
  2009
  - Local Scientists Speak out on Climate Change WUWM news, 12/14/2009.
  - Storm sewers oozing human fecal bacteria to beaches, rivers, study finds Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/3/09.
  - Strategies for Reducing Sewage Overflows WUWM Public Radio, 06/25/2009.
  - UWM studies Bradford Beach puddles Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/12/2009
  2008
  - Sandra McLellan on Eye to Eye WDJT 58, Milwaukee, 08/09/2008 (No Longer Available).
  - Shorewood Residents hope to revive Atwater Beach Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/08/08.
  - Beyond the Usual Suspects, July 2008.
  - Sand, Surf, and Science The Bay View Compass, July 2008.
  - On the trail of waterborne pathogens The Bay View Compass, March 2008.
  - Design and Function Blend at Bradford Beach WUWM Public Radio, 05/20/08.
  - Researchers Tracking Sewage Plume in Lake Michigan WUWM Public Radio, 6/10/08.
  - Miller to Donate $500,00 to Bradford Beach Group BizJournals, 06/24/08.
  2007
  - Bradford Beach to get a cleanup Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/18/2007
  - Sewers may be polluting rec areas Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/11/2007.
  - Source of fecal matter studied Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 02/27/2007.
  - Raw Sewage WTMJTV, 4/03/07 (No Longer Available).
  - Not fit for swimmers Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/03/2007.
  - Pipe leak sending sewage into creek Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/16/2007.
  - Miller Park toilets flush into river, lake Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/13/2007.
  - Honey Creek tainted with human waste Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/20/2007.
  - Going green: Milwaukee green roofs offer aesthetic and environmental benefits
    Blue Green magazine, 2007.
  2006
  - Feed the gulls, spoil our beaches Bay View Compass, 11/2006.
  - Carlson awarded Weston fellowship Aquatic Sciences Chronicle, Summer/Fall 2006.
  2005
  - This beach tale is a real mystery Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 07/22/2005 (No longer available).
  - Self-Criticism is hard to do wisopinions.com, 06/04/2005.
  - Study rakes pollution stories Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 06/02/2005 (No longer available).
  - Bradford is Dirtiest City Beach Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 05/31/2005 (No longer available).
  - Hint: The birds look innocent Journal Times Online.com, 03/14/2005 (No longer available).
  - Bacteria hit the beach mkeonline.com, 01/20/2005 (No longer available).
  - Scientists say ‘clean’ rain runoff is polluting beach Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 01/13/2005 (No longer available).
  - Opinion: Run-off of county pipes is spoiling Bradford Beach OnMilwaukee.com, 01/04/2005.
  2004
  - Dumping Dispute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BWP63dz4Zw WISN TV 12, Milwaukee, 06/15/2004.
  - The Green Roof WUWM, At Ten, 06/04/2004 (No longer available).
  - Research to determine if bacteria is from gulls Racine Journal-Times, 04/12/2004 (No longer available).
  - Beach safety not just a summer issue Manitowoc Herald Times, 01/27/2004 (No longer available).
  2003
  - Going With the Flow – How the suburbs are helping close the beaches Shepherd Express, 07/03/2003 (No longer available).
  - Scientist questions beach closings Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 05/09/2003 (No longer available).
  - More testing planned for beaches WBAY-TV Green Bay (No longer available).
  - Beaches to be tested more often Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 01/21/2003 (No longer available).
  2002
  - Campus UWM Scientist Wins Grant Cash from Very Different Sources Today@UWM, 12/13/2002 (No longer available).
  - Research ties gulls to beach pollution Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 08/27/2001 (No longer available).
  - Experts can’t pin down surge in beach closings Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 10/28/2002 (No longer available).