EVENTS

  • Iowa #48Lakes Initiative, Summer of 2025

Summer 2025
Iowa’s #48Lakes Initiative

@ 48 Dangerously Polluted Public Beaches

Interested in visiting a lake to share your stories of Iowa’s water pollution?

RSVP

48 Dangerously Polluted Public Beaches in Iowa

Volunteers will be visiting #48Lakes across Iowa to highlight the loss of Iowa’s public waters to pollution and call for the end of our #NoSwimEra.

If you are interested in participating, please RSVP above or contact us for more information.

During the Great Depression, supported by the federal government, the State of Iowa constructed some of the nation’s best state parks. Many featured manmade lakes and public beaches. For generations, these sites provided middle class families opportunities to swim, boat, fish and socialize. In recent years, industrial farming pollutants have created dangerous water conditions. Most of the beaches, for many summer weekends, are closed to public use. It’s time to push back. During Memorial Day Weekend, May 24–26, at 48 of Iowa’s state park public beach facilities, DWD is leading an effort to bring public attention to this serious problem. 

Questions? Collaborations?

Call (319)-541-4240

#NoSwimEra #48Lakes

Let’s Call It the Beginning of the End of 

Iowa’s #NoSwimEra

Summer 2025

@ 48 Dangerously Polluted Public Beaches

Driftless Water Defenders #48Lakes Initiative, summer 2025

Here’s Jim Larew to tell us all about the #48Lakes Initiative. Get ready to be inspired!