So, whatever happened to testing Lake Superior beaches for E. coli?
According to MPR, tightened budgets led the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to decide beach testing should be done by an outside contractor, because the issue was more of a public health concern than an environmental one. But the contractors haven’t started the work yet, meaning Lake Superior beaches like Park Point aren’t being tested.
Here’s the full story …
Beachgoers beware: Not all beaches are tested for bacteria
I attended a seminar by the MPCA on this topic about three years ago, and I asked them how many documented cases there were of people who had gotten sick from E. Coli in Lake Superior. The answer was 1.
Eat your bee pollen, everyone.
I was just about to ask the question Berv answered. Thanks, Berv! That was just the answer I was expecting.
Update: Testing resumed last week.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued advisories on August 20 for Leif Erikson Park Beach, Park Point New Duluth Boat Club and Hearding Island Canal Beach. Those advisories have now been lifted.
A new advisory has been issued for Lakewalk East/16th Avenue East Beach. Elevated E. coli levels were detected on August 23.