2005 Annual Report 4d.Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Sedimentation Laboratory and the University of Mississippi. Additional details of this research can be found in the report of the parent project 6408-13000-015-00D, Environmentally Sound Stream Corridor Rehabilitation and Management in Agricultural Watersheds. Fecal pollution of ground and surface water is often estimated numerically using fecal coliform plates. Recent research has indicated that the generic fecal coliform estimation may be less protective than estimates of more specific microbial parameters. A University of Mississippi study in collaboration with ARS scientists has developed a database of various microbial indicators for use in determining the ecological health of Mississippi Delta lakes (Beasley, Deep Hollow, and Thighman). The results indicated 73% of colonies described as fecal coliforms in Beasley Lake, were actually Escherichia coli, while only 20% and 40% of coliforms were E. coli in Thighman and Deep Hollow Lakes, respectively. While many researchers are focusing on source typing of fecal coliforms and E. coli, this study instead focuses on developing methods for more specific microbial indicators to be used for determination of fecal pollution.