CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE — A Steele County Deputy stands by at Beaver Lake near Ellendale on Sunday. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
Anyone visiting Beaver Lake this weekend was greeted by a welcoming committee.
Steele County Deputies were at the boat launch, making sure no boats got in the water.
According to a Steele County Energency Management news release, on Saturday, August 6, the Steele County Sheriff’s Office was notified of sewage within Beaver Lake. Initially, it had been believed to have been a septic system fail. Both the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) were alerted and attempted to contain the incident. The attempt has been so far unsuccessful and is believed to be over 5,000 gallons.
Homeowners around the lake have been notified and pets and people should not enter the water. The park is currently closed and posted with closed signs and barricades. It will be closed until further notice.
The Steele County Sheriff’s Office, Steele County Emergency Management, and the Steele County Parks & Recreation Department will continue to monitor and work with the MN DNR and PCA. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Update: As of Sunday, more than 3,500 gallons of contaminated water and debris had been removed from the lake. PCA crews remained on the scene Monday. The lake and park remain closed. On Tuesday, the PCA reported the contamination was not due to sewage, but brown algae.