Closed Beaches

[LKunze]

Five more North Shore beaches closed due to pollution
August 11, 2004 BEACH0811
Five beaches in Duluth, Grand Marais and Two Harbors have been closed because of fecal coliform pollution, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reported Tuesday. Closed in Duluth are beaches at Lester River, French River and Bluebird Landing. Three other beaches in Duluth already were closed to swimmers. Also closed were Burlington Bay in Two Harbors and the downtown public beach in Grand Marais.

The beaches will reopen only when bacteria levels fall, the agency said.

Fecal coliform pollution washes into lakes after heavy rains and can be caused by everything from dogs and geese to failed septic systems.

In Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has closed the swimming beach at Lake Hiawatha this year due to continual fecal coliform problems.

Matt McKinney