Park manager: Cottonwood River is no place to wade

Water could contain fecal coliform levels in excess

of health standards

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- As temperatures soared into the 90s Monday afternoon, most sunbathers, swimmers and waders at Flandrau State Park opted for the swimming pool instead of the brown-colored Cottonwood River.

Despite a sign that recommended against swimming or wading in the river that was moving rather swiftly, several youths walked down a dirt path to the Cottonwood and waded in the murky water.

The weathered, but readable sign, which is located near the pool read: "Notice: swimming or wading in the Cottonwood River is not recommended. The water in this river at times contains fecal coliform levels that exceed the Minnesota Department of Health standards recommended for human contact."

After the youths got out of the river water and walked up the path towards the pool, they were asked "Did you notice the sign?"

"I'm already mutated," a shirtless youth said rather seriously as he quickly walked away.

Flandrau Park Manager Gary Teipel said he encourages park users to take a dip in the pool instead of the river.

"People can wade in the river if they want to. We can't stop them," Teipel said. "But if they go in the river, they aren't supposed to go into the pool until they've taken a shower."

Teipel said Cottonwood River bacteria levels rise markedly after significant rain events, like they do in many area rivers and streams.

Fecal coliform generally arises from the fecal waste of humans, livestock and water fowl. Common sources include feedlots and faulty septic systems and wastewater treatment plants.

Flooding is a significant problem in the central part of the Cottonwood River watershed. Most of its smaller tributaries have no natural storage. They often cease to flow during droughts and flood during snow melt and excessive rainfall. There are currently less than 4,000 acres of wetlands in the watershed.

The river flows about 100 miles and drops 750 feet from Rock Lake south of Russell to the Minnesota River just south of New Ulm. The average river gradient is seven and one-half feet per mile.

Surface water pollution is a moderate to severe problem in the Minnesota River's major watersheds, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Of particular concern are suspended sediment, excess nutrients, mostly nitrogen and phosphorus, pesticides, pathogens (disease-producing agents like viruses, bacterium and other microorganisms), and biochemical oxygen demand (oxygen required by aerobic organisms, like those in sewage for metabolism).

High concentrations and suspended sediment and nutrient loads are often linked to artificial drainage patterns like ditches, tiles and reduced wetlands. About 80 percent of the Minnesota River Basin wetlands have been drained or converted to other uses, according to the MPCA.

Results of increased discharges and elevated flood peaks are eroded stream banks, destroyed shoreline vegetation and sediment deposits in streams and receiving waters.

Organic material sources include organic material erosion associated with sediment and/or manure and discharges from faulty septic systems and faulty wastewater treatment plants.