E. coli levels surge at Easter Lake; swim advisory issued

Driving the news: Polk County Conservation's water monitoring test late last week showed E. coli levels more than doubled from the previous week, exceeding the acceptable range.

• Signs warning beachgoers at the Athene North Shore Recreation Area were posted by the agency.
• E. coli itself is not necessarily harmful, but it is often found with other contaminants that can cause illness if the water is ingested, Polk officials wrote in the online notice.

State of play: On Monday, more than a dozen state beaches and at least five other city or county beaches across the state, including Lake Ahquabi in Warren County, issued swim warnings.

Reality check: E. coli is everywhere and most strains don't cause disease, Polk County Conservation director Rich Leopold tells Axios.

• The recent spike is likely associated with warm weather and recent rains, with testing levels possibly returning to acceptable levels in the coming days, he said.

Catch up fast: Easter Lake was placed on Iowa's Impaired Water List in 2004, which signals areas that fail to meet federal water quality standards.

• It was added to the list because of poor water clarity from algae, phosphorus and sediment.

Zoom in: The lake was taken off the impaired list last year after a multimillion-dollar, multiyear effort to restore wetlands, dredge and refill the lake.

• The Iowa Department of Natural Resources highlighted the lake earlier this year to showcase the success of water quality improvement initiatives.

The intrigue: Jim Bollard, president of the Easter Lake Area Neighborhood Association, tells Axios that goose feces may contribute to the spike.

Yes, but: The county has implemented projects that discourage birds in recreational areas and has staff removing their droppings in swimming areas to reduce potential hazards.

What's next: Easter Lake's next E. coli test results will likely be posted Thursday or Friday.