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POLK CITY, Iowa (KCCI) — Swimming is not recommended at 13 Iowa state beaches due to high levels of E. coli, with Big Creek Beach north of Polk City facing contamination warnings all month.
Big Creek Lake, located just north of Saylorville Lake, features the largest beach in Iowa’s state park system but has been a frequent site for contamination warnings. Signs at the beach alert visitors that the water near the shore exceeds state standards for E. coli bacteria.
“It’s very disappointing. And what goes through my mind is, you know, you can’t bring the kids up to play in the water, what you’d really want to do on a day like today,” said Lisa Nobiling of Polk City, who enjoys bringing her grandchildren to Big Creek Lake but has avoided swimming this summer.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been testing for water contamination at Big Creek Lake and other state beaches for more than 25 years. E. coli bacteria, which live in the intestines of humans and animals like geese, have caused Big Creek to exceed safe standards for nine weeks in 2022, five weeks in 2024, one week last year, and four weeks so far this year.
“Swimming in natural waters involves risks,” said Adam Schnieders, DNR water quality resource coordinator.
Schnieders explained that the warm sand near the beach provides an ideal environment for E. coli bacteria, but water farther from the shore shows significantly lower contamination levels. “As that water moves further away offshore, towards the edge of the swimming ropes and into the middle of the lake, E. coli gets less and less and less,” he said.
The contamination warnings have also affected local businesses, including Big Creek Marina. “We’ve definitely seen it slow down, in the park and business-wise, because obviously there’s the beach advisory,” said Ryan Morrison, manager of Big Creek Marina.
Morrison emphasized that boating, fishing, and other water activities remain safe despite the advisories. “If you want to still come outside, enjoy the weather, you know, some sunshine, you can come out and get a pontoon, a fishing boat, kayak. Yeah, we have all sorts of stuff,” he said.
The DNR is completing a three-year study on contamination risk assessments at Big Creek and other state beaches, aiming to reduce risks and improve safety for visitors.
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