These U.S. Beaches Are Closed Due to High Bacteria Levels
Beaches in several states across the country have reported high levels of bacteria, leading to closures and swimming advisories
By Christopher Edwards
Published on June 18, 2026 09:13PM EDT
Several states across the U.S. are warning beachgoers about high bacteria levels, with some beaches fully closing to the public.
In Massachusetts, Damon Pond Beach in Ashby, both beaches at Cliff Pond in Brewster, Forest River and Juniper Point beaches in Salem, and Shannon Beach in Winchester are all closed due to "Bacterial Exceedance" as of Thursday, June 18, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health.
Over in Iowa, the state's Department of Natural Resources has listed at least five beaches across the state as unfit for swimming due to the presence of E. coli, including Black Hawk Beach in Lake View, Pleasant Creek in Palo, Backbone in Dundee and Lake Darling in Brighton.
The presence of E. coli, a type of coliform, is not generally harmful and is naturally present in the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But the bacteria are an indicator that other, potentially harmful, fecal bacteria could be present. Consumption of or contact with water contaminated with feces of warm-blooded animals can cause a variety of illnesses, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
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