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See how Iowa DNR conducts seaside monitoring checks at Iowa’s lakes
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducts weekly checks to watch seaside water high quality at 39 state-owned seashores.
Sixteen seashores usually are not beneficial for swimming, the identical quantity because the week of July 31, albeit with some seashores swapped round. That’s nonetheless the very best variety of seashores with harmful quantities of E. coli because the 2026 season began.
The Iowa DNR gives weekly updates on which state seashores are experiencing excessive ranges of E. coli or algae that may be harmful to swimmers. You can examine the latest reports on the DNR website or by calling 515-725-3434.
Staff acquire weekly samples at 41 state-owned swimming seashores to find out the general public’s danger of coming involved with waterborne ailments. Testing begins every week earlier than Memorial Day and runs via Labor Day.
What Iowa DNR seashores usually are not beneficial for swimming?
Backbone Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 5
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Beeds Lake Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Big Creek Beach
- Beach classification: Less weak
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Bobwhite State Park
- Beach classification: Not obtainable
- Last take a look at date: July 29
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict for E. coli
Clear Lake State Park Beach
- Beach classification: Less weak
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Denison Beach
- Beach classification: Less weak
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Emerson Bay Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 5
- Test outcomes: Exceeded five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
George Wyth Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 5
- Test outcomes: Exceeded five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Lake Ahquabi Beach
- Beach classification: Less weak
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 5
- Test outcomes: Exceeded five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Lake Darling Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Lake Manawa Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
McIntosh Woods Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Nine Eagles Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: July 29
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Pleasant Creek Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 5
- Test outcomes: Exceeded five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Prairie Rose Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 4
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
Union Grove Beach
- Beach classification: Vulnerable
- Last take a look at date: Aug. 5
- Test outcomes: Exceeded single-sample restrict and five-sample Geomean normal for E. coli
What different seashores usually are not beneficial for swimming?
The Iowa DNR additionally tracks studies for 39 metropolis or county seashores throughout the state. This week, seven of the seashores reported E.coli ranges above the single-sample restrict.
In the Des Moines metro, the Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines has improved again to secure ranges. Gray’s Lake in Des Moines can also be OK to swim in.
Which Iowa seashores have improved to ‘OK for swimming’?
Two seashores have improved again onto the listing as “OK to swim” because the July 31 outcomes:
- Black Hawk Beach
- Crandalls Beach
Which Iowa seashores have particular statuses?
- Blue Lake Beach: While Lewis and Clark State Park has reopened, the seaside at Blue Lake Beach stays closed attributable to low water ranges. DNR is just not conducting testing whereas the seaside is closed.
- Brushy Creek Beach: Monitoring is at present suspended attributable to development.
- Lake Keomah: Monitoring by DNR is at present suspended attributable to low lake water circumstances. The DNR drained the lake in July 2024 for a serious renovation and water high quality enchancment mission that was set to final via spring 2026. The DNR warns folks to remain out of the lake mattress, which could look dry, however is comfortable and will shortly entrap folks.
How does the Iowa DNR classify Iowa’s seashores based mostly on their water high quality?
DNR officers classify state park seashores into one in every of three classes yearly based mostly on their historical past of micro organism outcomes in recent times:
- Vulnerable: Beaches are thought of weak when the geometric imply normal is exceeded in three or extra of the 5 most up-to-date sampling seasons.
- Transitional: The seaside’s geometric imply normal is exceeded in two or fewer sampling seasons of the 5 most up-to-date years of monitoring and was listed as “vulnerable” previously monitoring seasons.
- Less weak: The seaside’s geometric imply normal 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.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter on the Des Moines Register. Contact her at [email protected] or 515-284-8132.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2026/08/07/dnr-iowa-beach-monitoring-high-e-coli-16-beaches/91213587007/
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