The results of this project should enhance our ability to proactively improve the protection of public health. Equating the presence of pathogens to broad land use categories may help mitigate risks. As millions of dollars are spent on pathogen and storm event monitoring, a better understanding of the pathogen contributions from specific origins will improve watershed management approaches and help mitigate public health risks. This project may also advance sampling procedures needed for effective monitoring, and enhance the ability of wastewater treatment facilities to evaluate priorities for long term control planning and compliance.