Beach Monitoring Programs

Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program

The Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program is administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), who works with Cook and Lake County staff to collect samples from 40 locations along the Minnesota shores of Lake Superior and St. Louis River Bay.

Monitoring Frequency

The routine monitoring seasoning stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During that time, all beaches are monitored weekly. High priority beaches are monitored twice weekly.

In addition to routine monitoring, adjacent beaches are monitored following significant rain events, or sanitary sewer overflows and breakages.

A supplemental monitoring season runs from May 1st to Memorial Day, and Labor Day to October 31st. During this time, beaches frequently used by water recreators (kayakers, canoeists, sailors, surfers, etc.) are monitored weekly.

Beach Advisory Posting Criteria

The MPCA or County Health Department staff will post “Water Contact Not Recommended” advisories in the following instances:

1. A single water sample returns levels exceeding:
   E. coli: 235 colonies/100 ml water
   
   
2. A 5-sample average during a 30-day period is greater than:
   E. coli: 126 colonies/100 ml water
   

Contact Information

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Northeast Region
525 South Lake Avenue, Suite 400
Duluth, MN 55802
218-723-4660
1-800-657-3864
beaches@state.mn.us

Other Minnesota Beaches

Other Coastal States