The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is testing the water at 12 Iowabeaches twice a week this summer. D-N-R spokesman Mark Carrier says thetesting is part of the governor’s water quality iniative approved by thelegislature. Carrier says this is the first time regular testing has been done for fecalcoliform and E. coli bacteria in Iowa’s water recreation areas. He saysit’ll give them good information to work with.The D-N-R operates 74 state parks and recreation areas that include 38public swimming beaches. He says the 12 beaches being tested every Mondayand Tuesday are a good cross section.Carrier says the results of the testing will be posted on the D-N-R’swebsite. Carrier says the levels of bacteria in a body of water can changerapidly, so he doesn’t recommend you use the test figures as an absoluteguide in finding a swimming hole.Carrier says the testing began June 1st and will continue through September.The test sites are: Lake MacBride State Park, Johnson County…Red Haw StatePark, Lucas County…Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, LinnCounty…George Wyth State Recreation Area, Black Hawk County… Big CreekState Park, Polk County…Gull Point State Park, Dickinson County…LakeManawa State Park, Pottawattamie County…Black Hawk State Park, SacCounty… Lake Darling State Recreation Area, Washington County… NineEagles State Park, Decatur County. Beaches at Clear Lake State Park andMcIntosh Woods State Park, located in Cerro Gordo County, will be tested byIowa State University as a part of a more intensive study.
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