Beach Closed After 1M Gallons Of Wastewater Leaks Into Cannon River

CANNON FALLS, Minn. (WCCO) -- Playing bags and chatting inside the camper was not how the Otte family and some of their friends expected to spend the Fourth of July.

"Our plans for today were to swim at the beach, but then they are closed," said Haylee Gunderson.

Instead of swimming in the waters of Lake Byllesby, they -- along with dozens of other campers -- were forced to spend the day on dry land.

The reason for the sudden beach closure lies about 14 miles away in Northfield, where a pipe burst at a wastewater treatment facility, sending one million gallons of sewage into the Cannon River early Tuesday morning. The river flows into the lake, prompting the shutdown.

In a written release, officials said boating and fishing on the lake is OK, but not swimming, wading, water skiing and tubing is not.

Dakota County Parks started sampling water at the beach, and is following state health recommendations on testing.

The beach will re-open after at least two consecutive days of water testing show safe levels.

Click here for more information from Dakota County, and click here for more information from Northfield.