Four Iowa Beaches, including Backbone, not safe for swimming due to High E. Coli Levels

(Des Moines, IA) -- Four Iowa beaches are deemed not safe for swimming due to high levels of E. coli. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Backbone Beach, Beeds Lake Beach and Pine Lake South Beach in northeast Iowa, along with Bobwhite State Park Beach in southern Iowa, all exceeded state safety standards in the first round of testing this season. The DNR monitors water quality at state-owned beaches across Iowa, testing weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.