Copper Country Swimming Beach Water Quality Monitoring Resumes

For the 16th consecutive summer, selected beaches in the Copper Country will be monitored regularly for water quality.

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community will team up again to check e coli bacteria levels. Results will be posted to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s BeachGuard website.

The BeachGuard site includes reports from more than 1,800 beaches from across the state.

E coli is typically introduced into the water via fecal matter, either from aquatic birds, or from storm runoff. 

Local sites typically monitored by the Health Department include L’Anse Waterfront Park in Baraga County; Agate Beach, Chassell Beach, Dollar Bay Beach, Hancock Beach, Houghton Beach, Calumet Waterworks Park, McLain State Park and Twin Lakes State Park in Houghton County; Eagle Harbor Beach and the Lake Fanny Hooe Campground in Keweenaw County, and the Ontonagon Township Park on Lake Superior.

The KBIC provides additional monitoring of beaches on the Reservation.