5.3. SR 02-10-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the Elk River and its tributaries were collected at locations that exhibited representative channel flow conditions. All data for the project was provided by the City of Elk River, Sherbume County SWCD, and Lake Orono Improvement Association. The following sections summarize the comprehensive fecal coliform data. 3.2 CITY BEACH DATA The Orono Beach fecal coliform sampling data for 2002 as tabulated by the City is provided on Table 1 in Appendix B. The table indicates beach monitoring initiated on May 30th and ended On September 12th. The table indicates that the City closed the beach on July 3rd and re-opened it on August 8th. Over the monitoring period the day to day fecal coliform levels at the beach were highly var/able. The highest fecal coliform concentrations generally occurred at the beach in early to mid-July. The highest concentration was recorded on July 9, 2002 which was 3,700 colony forming units (CFU)/100 mi. After July 9th, the data indicates that fecal coliform concentrations subsided at the beach. Specifically, for the remainder of July fecal coliform concentrations were 2,000 CFU/100 ml or less. In August, concentrations were 780 CFU/100 ml or less. And in September, concentrations were 660 CFU/100 ml or less. The MDH guideline for fecal coliform in recreational use waters is 200 CFU/100 ml. A review of the data on the table indicates this standard was routinely exceeded in June and July but only intermittently exceeded in August and September. On July 10th and 11th preliminary samples were collected from near the entrance of Elk River into Lake Orono and from nearby septic systems on Lake Orono. These samples were collected in conjunction with the collection of the routine samples from the Beach area. The data indicates similar to higher concentrations of fecal coliform at these locations relative to the Beach area samples. Follow-up sampling that was completed further upstream in the Elk River and on Lake Orono on July 29th and 30th. This data is discussed below in Sections 3.3 and 3.4. 3.3 ELK RIVER WATERSHED DATA Fecal coliform testing results for the Elk River Watershed are provided on Figure 2, Appendix A and Table 2, Appendix B. A review of the data indicates that sampling locations included the Elk River and several of its tributaries such as Tibbits Brook, St. Francis River, Snake River, Rice Creek and Hyttsten Creek. LIESCH ASSOCIATES, INC. - Jan-2003 - Hydrogeologists · Engineers · Environ.mental Scientists - Page 3 -