If you are traveling around the state of Iowa this Memorial Day weekend, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued swimming advisories for four state park beaches due to high E. coli levels. Testing indicated bacteria concentrations exceeded safety thresholds, making the water unsafe for swimming. E. coli levels routinely spike after heavy rainfall, prompting these swimming advisories. The Iowa DNR tests water quality weekly throughout the summer.
The following beaches are currently under advisories:
- Pine Lake South Beach (Hardin County)
- Bobwhite State Park Beach (Wayne County)
- Beeds Lake Beach (Franklin County)
- Backbone Beach (Delaware County)
The DNR advises that you check swimming conditions regularly as water conditions change rapidly. You can view real-time testing results and the full list of statewide advisories on the Iowa DNR Beach Monitoring portal.