5.5. SR 06-13-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Current policy requires that the beach is posted with a warning sign if the average level exceeds the limit. Notification goes out to a list of individuals which includes the Lake Orono Improvement Association, City Council, City Administrator, Sherburne County Public Health Department, Park & Recreation Department, and Police Department. At the point the beach is posted, daily sampling commences (Monday -Friday) until the average drops below the limit and the caution sign is removed. Staff was directed at the June 6, 2011 City Council meeting to determine what would happen if the average of the swimming beach samples exceeds the limit for an extended period of time and what other cities that test do in these circumstances. Elk River's current policy would have the beach posted until the levels fall below the limit, regardless of the amount of time it takes to fall to a "safe" level. This change was implemented to avoid the need fox beach closure. The MN Department of Health recommends that consideration should be given to closing the beach when levels are above the safe limit because high fecal coliform bacteria counts are an indicator that other, more virulent bacteria (e-coli or salmonella, for example) that make people sick may be present in the water. Staff contacted Hennepin County which administers beach water quality testing for the cities within the County. Hennepin County has identified wildlife (waterfowl such as geese and ducks) and storm sewers (runoff with dog waste) as the most frequent contributors to high fecal coliform bacteria counts. The "human factor" (human waste from dirty diapers, for example) has not been an issue at Hennepin County beaches. Cities in Hennepin County receive the water test results and determine their response individually. The City of Wayzata closes its beaches when fecal coliform counts exceed safe levels, for several weeks each year. The City of Bloomington treats their beach sand to kill fecal coliform bacteria that may be present in the sand as a result of goose feces but does not close their beaches. Other cities do not necessarily post or close their beaches when counts are high. Hennepin County staff stated that calls have been received from residents who have reported getting sick from beaches with high counts that were not closed or posted with warnings. The City of Elk River does not have large numbers of geese utilizing Lake Orono and the beach area. The likelihood is that high fecal coliform bacteria counts are coming from the runoff from upstream and possibly from storm sewers within the City limits carrying pet waste. Financial Impact Additional testing would incur an additional cost. Sanitizing the beach would also incur a cost that has not been determined at this time. Attachments • Hennepin County and Minnesota Public Health beach testing policies • Proposed City of Elk River Water Quality Testing Policy Action Motion by Second by Vote FOIIOW Up N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\OG-13-2011\Beach posting.docx