Six beaches across Minneapolis are temporarily closed after routine testing detected high levels of E. coli bacteria in the water.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board says beaches at Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake Hiawatha are among those affected. Officials believe recent rainfall and animal waste runoff are contributing to the spike in bacteria levels.
“So in the United States, most swim-related illnesses are associated with disease-causing organisms that are linked to fecal contamination, aka poop,” Leah Larson with Hennepin Public Health said. “One of the most common sources that we see is going to be from goose, duck and other animal runoff, especially after a big storm event.”…