The beach at Lake Hiawatha is closed temporarily until further notice. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board proactively samples the water at all of its public beaches for bacteria that can be an indication of health risks for swimmers. Recent sampling at Hiawatha beach has found that bacteria (E. coli) exceed the USEPA specified guidelines and may indicate that pathogens are present in the water at unsafe levels. These elevated bacteria levels at Lake Hiawatha are typical after storm events wash into Minnehaha Creek, which then flows through Lake Hiawatha. The Park Board will continue sampling and notify the public once the beach reopens. It is anticipated that the earliest possible opening will be Wednesday, Aug. 11.
The 11 other beaches within the Minneapolis park system remain open, including the two beaches at Lake Nokomis which are located within a mile of Lake Hiawatha.
The public will be notified of the closure through onsite signage, online information, the Beach Hotline (612-313-7713) and notification to the neighborhood association and reservation groups.
For more detailed information on park system’s public beach monitoring program, visit www.minneapolisparks.org -- Caring for Parks -- Water Resources. Beach sampling results are available at: www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=993&termSearchVal=Beach_Status.
