Popular beaches closed as high bacteria levels raise health concerns for swimmers

Officials in several states are warning beachgoers to check local water-quality advisories before swimming this summer.

Elevated bacteria levels have prompted beach closures and health alerts in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington state.

Last summer, Environment America Research & Policy Center reported that “61% of U.S. beaches had potentially unsafe contamination levels in 2024.”

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Beaches can be contaminated with fecal matter from urban runoff and sewage overflows and by unhealthy pathogens from factory farms, the center said.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warned people that swimming is not recommended at Backbone Beach, Pine Lake South Beach, Geode Lake Beach, Union Grove Beach, Pleasant Creek Beach and Nine Eagles Beach due to elevated E. coli levels.

E. coli is normally harmless and “part of a healthy intestinal tract,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But certain strains can cause serious health problems to some people, such as the very young, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.  

The Iowa DNR maintains a beach-monitoring page online where it reports the status of beaches as: “ok for swimming, swimming not recommended, beach closed, insufficient data or special status.”

Massachusetts officials closed several beaches to swimming this month due to high bacteria levels, toxic blue-green algae and other concerns. They include: Damon Pond Beach, both beaches at Cliff Pond, Cochituate State Park, College Pond, both Fearings Pond beaches, Forest River and Juniper Point, NBC Boston reported.

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard with data updated hourly throughout the beach season.  

Earlier this week, Fox Weather reported that high fecal bacterial levels prompted health officials to issue swimming advisories at eight beaches and lakes – Ferry and Bay, Baywyn and Bay, Wildwood and Bay, Cedar Point Beach, Beachwood Beach West, Mirror Lake, Sleepy Lagoon and Vernon Valley Lake. Officials closed Beesley’s Point Beach.

Washington state’s official beach advisory map cautions that “increased levels of bacteria are present and a swimming advisory is issued by a local health department” at Freeland County Park/ Holmes Harbor, Walker County Park, Squaxin Park, Little Squalicum Park, West Bay Park and Thea Foss Waterway. Several of these water advisories are listed as “permanent.”

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Lake Meridian Park is also currently closed because of high bacteria levels, the City of Kent announced.

Symptoms of E. coli infection can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. Severe cases may lead to dehydration, according to the CDC.