BEACH AT BACKBONE STATE PARK CLOSED;
FURTHER INVESTIGATION BEING MADE
BY DNR TO DETERMINE BACTERIA SOURCE

STRAWBERRY POINT - The beach at Backbone State Park is closed until further
notice because of elevated bacteria levels, according to the Iowa DNR.

This week's beach monitoring results showed E-coli levels at 1,600 or nearly
seven times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
recommendation of 236 for a one-time sample.

"We have decided to close the beach at Backbone because of the possibility
that some human sources could be contributing to the elevated bacteria
levels," said Mary Skopec who supervises the DNR's water monitoring program.

Human sources of bacteria would increase the risk of disease-causing
pathogens being in the water, Skopec said.

The wastewater treatment plant at Strawberry Point is currently under
investigation by the DNR for alleged violations of its discharge permit. The
department is investigating whether effluent from the plant is receiving
adequate treatment prior to being discharged into a stream flowing to the
Maquoketa River. Backbone Lake, an impoundment of the river, is located
between three and four miles downstream from where wastewater treatment
plant in Strawberry Point discharges.

"We want to err on the side of protecting the public's health. While we
investigate the potential impact the wastewater treatment discharges may be
having on the beach, we felt it was best to close the beach now until we can
determine the risk to swimmers," Skopec said.

For more information, contact Mary Skopec at (319) 335-1575 or Kevin Baskins
at (515) 281-8395.

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