JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 25, 2018 - Missouri State Parks offers 17 designated swimming beaches to cool off and enjoy time with family and friends during the 2018 recreational season, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The department collects water samples from all designated beaches in the state park system weekly during the recreational season to determine suitability for swimming. The sample test results indicate a snapshot of the water quality taken at the beaches at a specific time; however, a single sample does not provide an overall sense of the water quality in the lake where the beach is located.
The water quality data and state park beach status information is posted weekly on the department’s website at https://dnr.mo.gov/asp/beaches, https://mostateparks.com as well as posted at each designated swimming beach location. Visitors to Missouri State Parks are able to sign up to receive email or text notifications about the state park beach status by visiting the department’s website at https://dnr.mo.gov/asp/beaches.
Natural, uncontrolled bodies of water such as streams, lakes and ponds, all have naturally occurring bacteria at certain levels and some may contain pollutants. However, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services indicates that if you practice healthy swimming habits, you can enjoy natural bodies of water and reduce the potential for becoming ill. Learn more about tips to swim healthy, stay healthy by reading DHSS's Reducing the Risk of Waterborne Illnesses When Swimming in Natural Bodies of Water brochure.
For more information on state parks and historic sites that offer recreational swimming, visit https://mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.