Iowa DNR reviews 19 seashores have an excessive amount of E. coli to swim

More than a dozen Iowa seashores proceed to be unsafe for swimming, in keeping with the newest Iowa Department of Natural Resources seaside monitoring report launched Friday, Aug. 22.

Seventeen seashores monitored by the state and two Des Moines-area seashores examined excessive for E. coli.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources screens water high quality at 39 state-owned swimming seashores and gives weekly updates to the public via its web site and a hotline at 515-725-3434. Sampling begins the week earlier than Memorial Day and continues via Labor Day.

What Iowa DNR seashores are usually not advisable for swimming?

Backbone Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Beeds Lake Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 19
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Big Creek Beach

• Beach classification: Less susceptible
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 18
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Brushy Creek Beach

• Beach classification: Less susceptible
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 19
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Clear Lake State Park Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 19
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Crandalls Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Emerson Bay Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

George Wyth Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Lacey-Keosauqua Beach

• Beach classification: Less susceptible
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Lake Ahquabi Beach

• Beach classification: Less susceptible
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Lake Darling Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Lake Macbride Beach

• Beach classification: Less susceptible
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Lake Manawa Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 19
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Pine Lake South Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 19
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Pleasant Creek Beach

• Beach classification: Less susceptible
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Prairie Rose Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 19
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

Union Grove Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last take a look at date: Aug. 20
• Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli

What Des Moines space seashores are usually not advisable for swimming?

• Blue Heron Lake Beach at Raccoon River Park: Testing on Aug. 13 discovered E. coli ranges above the appropriate vary, in keeping with the West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.
• Easter Lake: As of Aug. 14, Polk County Conservation has decided that the degrees of E. coli within the water exceed the appropriate vary, and swimming is just not advisable.  

What Iowa seashores have a particular standing?

• Lake Keomah Beach: Monitoring by DNR has been suspended for the 2025 season. The DNR drained the lake in July 2024 for a serious renovation and water high quality enchancment mission that can final till spring 2026. The DNR warns individuals to remain out of the lake mattress, which could look dry, however is gentle and will shortly entrap individuals.

What seashores have improved to ‘OK for swimming’?

Two seashores noticed enhancements in water high quality from week 13 knowledge, posted on Aug. 15, to week 14. They have since been faraway from the record of seashores not advisable for swimming:

• Bobwhite State Park Beach
• Lake of Three Fires

How does the Iowa DNR classify Iowa’s seashores primarily based on their water high quality?

DNR officers classify state park seashores into one in every of three classes yearly primarily based on their historical past of micro organism outcomes in recent times:

Less susceptible: The seaside’s geometric imply customary is exceeded in two or fewer sampling seasons of the 5 most up-to-date years of monitoring and was listed as “transitional” or “less vulnerable” in previous monitoring seasons.

Vulnerable: Beaches are thought of susceptible when the geometric imply customary is exceeded in three or extra of the 5 most up-to-date sampling seasons.

Transitional: The seaside’s geometric imply customary is exceeded in two or fewer sampling seasons of the 5 most up-to-date years of monitoring and was listed as “vulnerable” prior to now monitoring seasons.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a basic project reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or observe her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.