High bacteria level closes Lake Hiawatha in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - High bacteria levels will keep the Lake Hiawatha beach in south Minneapolis closed this week.

Park officials closed the beach July 19 after water sampling found that E. coli bacteria exceeded state guidelines.

Parks spokeswoman Dawn Sommers tells the Star Tribune there have been no reports of illness from swimmers.

Hiawatha is the only one of the city's 12 public beaches that is closed. Sommers says the beach is more prone to pollutants than other swimming areas because Minnehaha Creek runs through part of the lake, carrying goose droppings, pet waste and other runoff.

Sommers says Hiawatha will remain closed until it improves enough to meet state health guidelines. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.