Beaches and Recreational Waters in Minnesota
Links to Resources
On this page:
State and Local Sources
Federal Sources
International Sources
Attention: Links on this page take you outside the Minnesota Department of Health website.
State and Local Sources
Metro Area Resources
- Water Quality Monitoring, Metropolitan Council
Rivers, Streams and Lakes Monitoring in the Twin Cities Metro Area, as well as wastewater and special project monitoring. - Three Rivers Park District
Swimming Beaches Bacteria Guidelines for Hennepin County - Minneapolis Parks and Lakes, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Information about the chain of lakes and parks in Minneapolis. - Lake Access
Real-time water quality for Lake Minnetonka - Hennepin County Beach Water Quality Information
Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin Resources
- Beachcast, Great Lakes Restoration
General information on beach health and water quality. - Lake Superior: Duluth Streams
A comprehensive look at water quality and biology in the Duluth area. - Wisconsin Beach Health
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
- Swimmer's Itch
Information on “Swimmer's Itch” (schistosome dermatitis). - Lakes Finder
Locate Lakes and Beaches in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Pollution Control (MPCA)
- What you should know about blue-green algae (PDF: 139KB/2 pages)
- Floods: Minimizing Pollution and Health Risks
Information on the health risks of flood-waters. - Minnesota's impaired waters and TMDLs (total maximum daily loads)
- Biological monitoring of water in Minnesota
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Minnesota Administrative Rules: Chapter 7050, Waters of The State
Water Quality Standards for Protection of Waters of the State
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Federal Sources
- Healthy Swimming/Recreational Water, CDC
Answers to your questions about Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) - Biocriteria - Bioassessment and Biocriteria, EPA
Federal recommendations for beach closure. - Great Lakes National Program Office, EPA
Information on contaminated sediments, pollution prevention, etc. - Great Lakes Monitoring - The Swimmability Index, EPA
- Beach Monitoring & Notification, EPA
- Bad Bug Book, FDA
Describes various foodborne pathogens, many of which appear in beaches. - Great Lake Commission (des Grands Lacs)
Nonidigenous Invasive Species (NIS) Information
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International Sources
- Oceana: Protecting the World's Oceans
This website offers a guide to state programs across the United States. - Recreational “Bathing” Waters, World Health Organization (WHO)
Describes international public health efforts for beach protection including sampling and analysis. - Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) and their Toxins, Health Canada
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