The hot springs within Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE) are popular recreational features with unique hydrologic and thermal characteristics. Although these systems support notable visitor use, the occurrence and environmental controls of pathogenic microorganisms, including Naegleria fowleri and other microbes of public-health concern, are poorly understood.

This project will address critical knowledge gaps regarding the presence and environmental drivers of pathogenic microbes in thermal and warm freshwater systems of LAKE. By integrating environmental DNA (eDNA), advanced molecular assays (e.g., qPCR and metagenomics), and traditional water-quality data, the study will provide a comprehensive assessment of microbial pathogen occurrence across seasons and environmental gradients.

Key outcomes include development of baseline pathogen data for hot springs, evaluation of environmental conditions associated with pathogen dynamics, and synthesis of findings into a science-based information guide for park personnel. Quantifying the presence, distribution, and environmental drivers of pathogenic microbes in heavily used hot springs in LAKE will assist managers by providing a scientific foundation for resource stewardship and visitor safety communications.