Bacteria Hamper SYP Exploration

After the destructive Father’s Day flood inundated the Keweenaw, Gratiot and many other water bodies and beaches were adversely impacted by the excessive runoff and high bacteria counts. Gratiot Lake was tested by the health department at the DNR boat launch site and found for a time to have levels of fecal coliform (source could be any animal) unacceptable for swimming. Thankfully, at Gratiot there was not an unsafe level of e-coli, a bacteria associated with human waste.

Besides putting a damper on recreation by Gratiot Lake residents, the quixotic nature of bacteria counts measured at the DNR boat launch wreaked havoc with Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Program (SYP) group’s access to water activities. Tech allowed only a day program at Gratiot in July, rather than their normal residential week at the Noblet Field Station. Students were sad that they couldn’t camp at the cabin, but were able to complete the program in other locations.