Just one state beach features warning this holiday

Just one Iowa beach monitored by the state carries a warning sign this Memorial Day holiday. The Department of Natural Resources posted a sign Friday at Lake Darling in southeast Iowa warning people not to swim in the lake. D-N-R spokesman Kevin Baskins says bacteria levels are up at the lake.He says the levels could be up due to increased runoff from recent rains. Baskins says this is the first lake to see a posted warning under a revised monitoring policy in which they don’t close down beaches.Baskins says they decided not to routinely close the beaches because — in most cases — there’s not a lot of diving and swimming under the water leading to swimmers ingesting the bacteria laden water. Baskins says cool weather maybe helping keep the bacteria down.He says the cold-water temperatures may make swimming a moot point anyway, as people probably won’t be swimming in the cool water. To check out the results of the lake monitoring, surf to the D-N-R’s website at: www.state.ia.us/government/dnr.