Update 7 p.m. 7/25/13: The Minneapolis Park Board reopened Lake Calhoun's 32nd Street Beach after a test revealed E. coli contamination had dropped below acceptable levels again.
Bacteria counts and water temperature details for all of the city's beaches can be found on the MPRB website.
Original Post: Thursday, the Minneapolis Park Board closed Lake Calhoun's 32nd Street Beach due to extremely high levels of E. coli bacteria in the water.
The lake's other beaches—Thomas Beach at the southern end and North Beach on the opposite side—remain open, with E. coli counts hundreds of times below the levels at the 32nd Street Beach.
Water at each city beach is tested weekly for temperature and bacteria levels.
High bacteria levels generally occur after heavy rains wash animal waste from yards, streets, and parks into the lake, creating concentrations of bacteria and of the material the organisms feed on. E. coli is a bit fickle, a Park Board spokesperson told Patch, so the conditions at some beaches might not be just right for a burst of bacterial growth.
The spokesperson said the water at the 32nd Street Beach will be tested daily until they drop below acceptable levels and the beach can be reopened. The beach will likely be open again by the weekend.
Bacteria counts and water temperature details for all of the city's beaches can be found on the MPRB website.
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