The number of state beach advisories for E. coli hit a record this year as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues a project to learn more about it. Dan Kendall manages the DNR’s summer beach monitoring program. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/dd1021beaches1.mp3

Those samples include testing for E. coli, a large family of bacteria. Most strains are harmless. They live in the guts of warm-blooded animals, including people, geese and cattle. But some escape into the environment through feces and make people sick with stomach cramps and diarrhea. Kendall says high concentrations of E. coli in water also indicate other harmful microbes may be present. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/dd1021beaches2.mp3

The DNR issued 151 “Swimming Not Re

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