Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Anne Perry Moore (218) 723-2356 Technical Contact: Heidi Bauman (218) 723-4953 All MPCA staff, toll-free (voice and TTY): (800) 657-3864 Duluth, Minn. -- Due to higher-than-normal bacteria levels, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Beach Program Coordinator placed a sign advising against water contact at a Duluth public beach today. The advisory will remain in effect until at least Tuesday or when bacterial numbers fall below the program threshold. "Wave action probably contributed to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria at the Lakewalk monitoring site below Lake Place Park," said Heidi Bauman, MPCA Beach Program Coordinator. "Swimming or water contact is not recommended at that site." If anyone becomes ill after contact with the Lakewalk monitoring site's water, they should call the St. Louis County Health Department at (218) 725-5200. The Lakewalk monitoring site had one advisory posted on July 7, 2003 and none in 2004. The Lakewalk monitoring site is currently the only one of 39 tested by the MPCA with a "no water contact" advisory sign. "People can always check our Web site, http://www.mnbeaches.org, or call our hotline, (218) 725-7724, to learn about the water quality at their favorite beaches and public access points," Bauman said. Though quantities are limited, Web visitors can also register for a free beach ball with the beach program's Web address printed on it and sign up to be added to an e-mail alert service. Bacterial sources such as dog and wildlife feces, dirty diapers, failing septic systems and sewer line breaks and overflows are often mentioned as possible beach water contaminants. "Though the bacteria's origins cannot be determined due to funding and program restrictions," Bauman said, "wave action churning up sediment seems to be a common factor among the beach advisories we've posted during the past three years." Bauman cautioned people to stay out of the water near the Lakewalk site for the next few days. If the state government shuts down July 1, all beach water monitoring conducted by the Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program staff and contractors will be suspended until further notice. For more information about the beach program, call Heidi Bauman, MPCA Beach Program Coordinator, at (218) 723-4953, (800) 657-3864 or visit the related Web page at http://www.mnbeaches.org. The Web site also provides an opportunity to receive free advisory alert e-mails, maps of the monitoring sites, lists recent water monitoring results at all 39 beach locations, and a recently-released report of last year's program and monitoring accomplishments. People may call the program's hotline at (218) 725-7724 for the latest beach advisory information.