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<br /> <br />City of Elk River <br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date <br />Consent Ma 1, 2006 <br />Item Description <br />Lake Orono Beach Closure Polic <br /> <br />Item Number <br />3.8.* <br /> <br />Prepared by <br />Rebecca Hau , Environmental Admin <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br />Introduction <br />In July 2003, a policy was established and adopted for Lake Orono to close the beach if fecal coliform <br />counts exceeded 2,000. For the past couple of years, the Wastewater Treatment Plant staff has been <br />testing Lake Orono for fecal coliform. Samples were taken and if on any single day the fecal coliform <br />counts exceeded 1,000, signage was posted at the beach stating "Caution - Impaired Water Quality- <br />Potential Health Risk if Swallowed". Sampling was then conducted every day following the exceedance <br />until the average of the three samples taken at the Beach fell below 1,000 for two consecutive days, at <br />which time the caution signs were removed. If the average of any single day's sampling exceeded a fecal <br />coliform count of 2,000, Orono Beach was closed and signs that read as follows were posted: "Beach <br />Closed - Impaired Water Quality - Potential Health Risk if Swallowed". The Beach was to remain closed <br />and daily testing conducted until fecal coliform counts for two consecutive day's testing (the average of <br />the three tests taken at the Beach) fell below 2,000, at which time the caution signs were posted at the <br />Beach. When the average levels at the Beach return t01,000 or less for two consecutive days, all signage <br />was removed. <br /> <br />Discussion <br />The city received information from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust regarding beach <br />closures. The information is based upon the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines used <br />for recreational purposes. MDH guidelines require the beach to be posted when the fecal coliform <br />counts exceed 200. Staff is proposing to amend the previous policy and adopt this standard. Three <br />samples would be taken at Orono beach on Monday and Wednesday as well as the day before, week of <br />and week after the Sherburne County fair and analyzed for fecal coliform. These results would then be <br />averaged. If the counts exceed 200, signage will be posted at the beach stating "Caution - Impaired <br />Water Quality - Potential Health Risk if Swallowed". Sampling will be conducted every day following the <br />exceedance until the average of the three samples taken at the beach fall below 200 for two consecutive <br />days, at which time, the signs will be removed. When the counts reach 200, additional tests will be <br />conducted at the Highway 10 bridge and where the Elk River enters Lake Orono to ascertain what future <br />water quality may be and if the high fecal count originated at the beach. These tests shall cease when the <br />average fecal coliform levels fall below 200 at the beach for two consecutive days. Signs stating "Beach <br />Closed - Impaired Water Quality - Potential Health Risk if Swallowed" will not be posted. <br /> <br />When it is determined that the water is impaired, Park Maintenance will place "caution" signs at Orono <br />Beach and the public access. The Elk River Police Department and Sherburne County Public Health will <br />be notified as well as members of the Lake Orono Improvement Association who will contact lake <br />owners. The City and the Lake Orono Improvement Association will post notices on their websites. <br /> <br />C: \Documents and Settings \tallard\Local Settings \ Temporary Internet Files \OLKF\REQUEST COUNCIL ACTION-l 0 .doc <br />