MINNEAPOLIS — Editor's note: The above video originally aired on June 28, 2024.
For the foreseeable future, some popular beaches on a Minneapolis lake will be closed because of bacteria levels.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) said due to a sewer leak and overflow near Lake Nokomis Monday morning, all beaches at the lake are closed until further notice.
The two beaches affected are the Main Beach and the 50th Street Beach, also known as the "Little Beach."
Park and Rec crews have fixed the sewer leak but will continue cleaning up.
Crews will sample the lake water at the two beach locations and "provide further updates when they are available," according to a news release.
Earlier this summer, four popular Minneapolis beaches closed ahead of the July 4th weekend after water samples revealed bacteria levels that exceeded state health guidelines.
An interactive map on the MPRB's website shows the water quality and temperatures for all the city's lakes.
Bde Maka Ska's North Beach, Hiawatha Beach and Wirth Beach are also currently closed due to high bacteria levels.
Park Board crews monitor bacteria levels at city beaches weekly and post a "Beach Closed" sign if a single water sample exceeds an E. coli count of 1,260 organisms per 100mL of water, or if the geometric mean of E. coli counts from 5 samples equally spaced over a 30-day period exceed 126 organisms per 100mL of water.
Here are some things to consider before diving into any lake, posted or not.
- Don't swim if you or your child have diarrhea or are sick.
- Be careful to not get lake water in your mouth.
- Wash your hands before eating and after changing a diaper.
- Avoid swimming for 48 hours after a heavy rainfall, when bacteria levels can be high.
- Towel dry immediately after exiting the water to prevent Swimmer's Itch.
- Do not swim in water that looks like “pea soup” or spilled paint floating on the surface.
- Keep children and pets out of blue-green algae scum.
For more on beaches in the city of Minneapolis, including hours, lifeguard status and health advisories, check out the MPRB website.