COON RAPIDS, Minn — A mystery has been swirling around the Mississippi River all week: Where did a sheen on the water come from?
The sheen was first reported on Tuesday, at the Highway 610 Bridge in Coon Rapids, and another was reported Wednesday morning near West Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.
Officials said booms were deployed to keep the sheen away from water intakes in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Now, multiple state agencies have confirmed that the sheen was the result of lubricant used within the Coon Rapids Dam hydraulic system. Officials told KARE 11 the lubricant is not harmful if it gets into contact with food, and drinking water is safe.
Three Rivers Park District operates the dam in Coon Rapids and reported that Tuesday morning a valve malfunctioned and about 30 gallons of lubricant spilled.
