State beach bacteria levels are low ahead of holiday weekend

There are currently nine state beaches where the environmental regulators caution against swimming ahead of the Labor Day weekend, but many of them have relatively low bacteria levels, according to a recent Iowa Department of Natural Resources report.

The state monitors bacteria and toxins at its beaches with weekly tests. Those results can change significantly over the course of days depending on weather conditions.

Heavy rainfalls can increase the amount of E. coli bacteria that flow into lakes. Warm, calm conditions can foster blue-green algae blooms and their toxins.

Six of the beaches with swim warnings for bacteria now have relatively low concentrations of the microorganisms but have averaged an unhealthy amount over the past five weeks. They include:

Two of the beaches have high bacteria counts. Emerson Bay Beach in Dickinson County had about double the amount of bacteria that can trigger a swim warning when its water was tested on Wednesday. Pine Lake South Beach in Hardin County also tested higher than the safe threshold.

Green Valley Beach in Union County was the only one with a swim warning for toxins.

The bacteria and toxins have the potential to cause skin irritations, disease and infections among those who come into contact.