State monitoring lake, river in Carlton County for E. coli in wake of flooding

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is continuing to conduct water sampling in two bodies of water in Carlton County after raw sewage swept into them during the flooding last month.

The MPCA is monitoring Moosehead Lake and the river access on the Moose Horn River near Sturgeon Lake for elevated levels of E. coli from fecal matter.

Last week the MPCA announced there were problems at Moose Lake near a public campground and at the south end of Big Hanging Horn Lake, where untreated wastewater was discharged. Water samples collected Thursday showed elevated bacteria levels at the river access on the Moose Horn River.

E. coli and fecal bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Both lakes and the river will be tested regularly until the bacteria are at an acceptable level.

The MPCA recommends that people stay out of the river and Moosehead Lake until acceptable levels of waste are detected.

The MPCA will collect water samples Monday and Thursday and for the foreseeable future. On the day after each collection, the MPCA will update its advisory at www.mnbeaches.org and its recorded message. People can call (218) 302-6660 to find out which bodies of water downstream of the failed treatment systems are considered unsafe.

In Duluth, swimming is not recommended in several areas along Park Point on the Duluth Harbor side because of E. coli contamination.

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