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Mud, sand from floods spreading into Lake Superior

Photo: hael Thompson, Photos.com

Jun 29, 2012 at 8:31 am

DULUTH, MN (AP) - Sand, mud and gravel from last week's torrential rains in northeastern Minnesota are spreading into western Lake Superior.

The lake's chocolate brown tint is visible in satellite photos from space. Boaters report entire trees floating in the lake.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries specialist Josh Blankenheim tells the Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/NHC4Z8) that crews found visibility of just six feet in the water this week. That compares with being able to see down 35 feet last week.

The mud, muck and clay already are settling to the bottom. But the exact impact of all that sediment is uncertain.

As many as 10 inches of rain pounded the Duluth area over two days last week, breaking a more than century-old record.