Conservation Minnesota this week is launching its second year of regular reporting on summertime public beach conditions in Minnesota. Using data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Lake Superior monitoring program and our own research on conditions at inland beaches scattered across the state, we’re trying to develop a picture of the health of Minnesota’s recreational waters as they affect swimmers, and to help get the word out about any beach closings or advisories.

Exposure to pathogens can be a health problem at public beaches, as the Minnesota Department of Health notes. For example, in in 2001 there were over 3,000 confirmed cases of infectious diseases, including Giardia, Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella, e.coli and more.

Reader information — suggested beaches to check on, news about advisories or closings, or summertime beach stories and memories are all welcome. Simply contact dave@conservationminnesota.org or cmstaff@conservationminnesota.org.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 pm by Dave and is filed under Health, Water. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.