11 beaches on Iowa DNR’s swimming not recommended list for July 4

High temperatures over the Fourth of July weekend might have you looking to take a dip in one of Iowa’s lakes. But, you’ll want to be sure the water is safe for swimming before getting into the water.

A total of 11 state beaches are not recommended for swimming ahead of the holiday, up from 10 beaches last week.

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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides weekly updates on which state beaches are experiencing high levels of E. coli or algae that can be dangerous to swimmers. You can check the latest reports on the DNR website or by calling (515) 725-3434.

The DNR collects weekly samples at 41 state-owned swimming beaches to determine the public’s risk of coming in contact with waterborne diseases. Testing starts a week before Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day.

What Iowa DNR beaches are not recommended for swimming?

Backbone Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: July 1
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit and five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Beeds Lake Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit for E. coli

Big Creek Beach

• Beach classification: Less vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit for E. coli

Black Hawk Beach

• Beach classification: Less vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit and five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Emerson Bay Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: July 1
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit and five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Lake Darling Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit and five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Lake of Three Fires Beach

• Beach classification: Less vulnerable
• Last test date: July 1
• Test results: Exceeded algal toxin action level

Nine Eagles Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: July 1
• Test results: Exceeded five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

North Twin Lake West Beach

• Beach classification: Less vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Pine Lake South Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit and five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Prairie Rose Beach

• Beach classification: Vulnerable
• Last test date: June 30
• Test results: Exceeded single-sample limit and five-sample Geomean standard for E. coli

Which Iowa beaches have improved to ‘OK for swimming’?

Two beaches have made it back onto the OK for swimming list since June 26:

• North Twin Lake East Beach
• Pleasant Creek Beach

Which Iowa beaches have special statuses?

• Blue Lake Beach: Monitoring by DNR is currently suspended due to low lake water conditions and the closure of Lewis and Clark State Park.
• Lake Keomah: Monitoring by DNR is currently suspended due to low lake water conditions. The DNR drained the lake in July 2024 for a major renovation and water quality improvement project that was set to last through spring 2026. The DNR warns people to stay out of the lake bed, which might look dry, but is soft and could quickly entrap people.

How does the Iowa DNR classify Iowa’s beaches based on their water quality?

DNR officials classify state park beaches into one of three categories annually based on their history of bacteria results in recent years:

• Vulnerable: Beaches are considered vulnerable when the geometric mean standard is exceeded in three or more of the five most recent sampling seasons.
• Transitional: The beach’s geometric mean standard is exceeded in two or fewer sampling seasons of the five most recent years of monitoring and was listed as “vulnerable” in the past monitoring seasons.
• Less vulnerable: The beach’s geometric mean standard is exceeded in two or fewer sampling seasons of the five most recent years of monitoring and was listed as “transitional” or “less vulnerable” in past monitoring seasons.

Brian Smith is a senior editor and audience strategist at the Des Moines Register. Contact him at bsmith@dmreg.com.