Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program
The Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program is administered by the
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH),
who works with Cook County staff to collect samples from 38 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 MDH or County Health Department staff will post “Water Contact Not Recommended” advisories in the following instances:
- A single water sample returns levels exceeding:
E. coli: 235 colonies/100 ml water
- A 5-sample average during a 30-day period is greater than:
E. coli: 126 colonies/100 ml water
Contact Information
Amy D. Westbrook, MPH
Program Manager
Minnesota Department of Health, Northeast District
Government Services Center, Rm 703
320 West Second Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Email: amy.westbrook@state.mn.us
Phone: (218) 723-4907
Fax: (218) 723-2359
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