Statewide, Iowa — If you’re headed for the beach to cool off one last time on these hot days at the end of the season, you may want to think twice.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has advised against swimming at a number of beaches across the state. The DNR’s Jason Palmer in the Water Quality division says the return of wildlife and agricultural runoff toward the end of the season has created an elevated risk for all types of harmful bacteria. They look first for E-coli.
He says birds in the water around the beaches have elevated the concern of possible bacteria.
The DNR held over last week’s advisories as they says the heatwave made it unsafe for workers to take new samples.
In our area, the DNR recommends no swimming at three beaches in the Iowa Great Lakes area:
— Crandall’s Beach on Big Spirit Lake, for elevated weekly averages of bacteria.
— Emerson Bay Beach on West Okoboji Lake, for elevated weekly averages of bacteria and a single elevated test.
— Gull Point State Park on West Okoboji Lake, for elevated weekly averages of bacteria.
