Iowa beaches see record swim advisories amid summer bacteria spike - The Daily Iowan

Iowa Beach Advisories for E. Coli and Other Pathogens Hit All-Time High

The summer of 2025 was the most un-swimmable Iowa summer yet, thanks in part to pollution from farms.

Iowa beaches see record swim advisories amid summer bacteria spike - The Daily Iowan

Fall harvest is underway across Iowa, and bare fields with fresh manure could send more nutrients and bacteria into waterways, according to a 2025 Iowa State University study. The study found that cover crops, or crops planted to prevent runoff and erosion without the intention of harvesting it, cut soil carbon loss from erosion by 68 percent. This means that without cover, all the loose soil and whatever it’s carrying is much more likely to was…