Memorial Day weekend weather perfect for outdoor recreation. Here's what Southeast Iowa has to offer.

Des Moines County Conservation has been busy this week readying county parks for the busiest weekend of the year.

“Memorial Day weekend is kind of the unofficial start of summer,” Des Moines County Conservation Director Chris Lee said. “It is always our biggest weekend. All of our camping grounds are probably going to fill up.”

Lee said his department spends the days leading up to the three-day weekend readying camping sites for summer traffic. In addition to campers, Lee said it is normal to see day users at Big Hollow, Starr’s Cave and along the Mississippi River.

Lee said camping sites will be full at most of the county parks over the weekend. As of Wednesday morning, only a handful of spots were open along the Skunk River, but Lee reported no openings for Big Hollow or 4th Pumping Station.

'It will be quite beautiful': Weekend temperatures ideal for outdoor recreation

According to Timothy Gunkle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Quad Cities, the weather is expected to be warm and dry, with temperatures in the mid-70s on Saturday and a high of about 90 degrees on Monday. Gunkel said there is a small chance of rain north of Burlington.

“It looks like it will be quite beautiful, along with some lower humidity, so it will not be too oppressive with the heat,” Gunkle said.

River levels will prevent some boat docks from being placed

While weather will not be an issue, Memorial Day weekend may to be complicated by the high but not flood stage river levels.

More: Veteran boaters share Mississippi River safety tips: 'If you don't respect it, it will eat you up'

The Mississippi River goes into flood stage at 15 feet, a level that does not impact infrastructure within the city of Burlington but does impact low-lying roads in the county, as well as some of the boat docks along the river. Except for a brief stint above flood stage last month, the Mississippi River has stayed in the 13- to 15-foot range for most of the spring.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Mississippi River was at 13.7 feet and predicted to reach 14 feet by mid-day today, but was expected to remain below flood stage throughout the middle of next week. At 13 feet the river is not flooded, but it does impact how Conservation interacts with members of the public, specifically whether boating docks can be attached. Lee said that at 13 feet, the department is able to put out most of its boating docks.

“This only gives us a few inches of play before the river lifts the dock up too high where we can’t get it disconnected from the mounting,” Lee said.

If the water rises too high, the docking station can be damaged to the point the docks can break free and float away. But the risk of the docks floating away has to be measured against the public's desire to have them in place.

On a weekend like Memorial Day weekend, Lee said any one of the docks put out on the river could see thousands of boats. The slightly high river levels protect the underside of boats from what would otherwise be low spots, which is attractive to many boaters.

Lee said because of the river level and the risk of damage, boat docks, which cost $15,000 each, will not be placed at Casey Barrow or Hawkeye Dolbee. Boat docks at Sulivan Slough and Tama were already in place on Thursday.

When pools will open in Burlington, other southeast Iowa cities

Those who won't be camping or boating can find relief from Monday's heat at the pool.

Huck's Harbor will open its doors for the season on Saturday for its outdoor features. Construction work means that the indoor portion of the waterpark will remain closed as the Fun City Website says this portion of the water park is being renovated.

The park is open each day from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The Keokuk swimming pool will open on Saturday and will be open from noon until 6 p.m. each day. Daily admission is $3.50 per person and must be paid in cash. Season passes for an individual are $70 and a pass for a family is $150 for up to five family members. Additional family members will cost $10.

Monday will be the first day of Mount Pleasant's swim season. The pool will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. daily. Daily admission is $3.50 for those ages 4 to 15 and $4 for those 16 and older. Season passes will be $50 per person and a family pass can be purchased for $120 for up to five family members, with each additional family member costing $5.

Wapello Community Pool will open at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The pool will be open daily from 12:30 to 5 p.m. for open swim. Adult swim will be daily from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. There also will be night swim hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Daily admission for the Wapello Community Pool is $4 from 12:30 until 6 p.m. and $3.50 for admissions after 6 p.m. with admission for infants under the age of 1 being free. Season passes for city residents are $65 for an individual and $120 for a family, with nonresident passes costing an extra $10 and $15 respectively.

Starting this year, Wapello residents will have an option to purchase a shared pool pass that will also allow them to visit Winfield pool. Those who already have purchased their Wapello Community Pool family pass can upgrade their pass to the shared pass by paying the difference in cost. There is no individual version of this pass.

Other area pools will not open until after the holiday weekend.

The Dankwardt Pool will open late this year. After a planned opening date this weekend, the new open date has been moved to June 10 as work is still being completed on the swimming pool liner.

The issue was discovered when the pool was refilled. A contractor is expected to begin that work Monday.

During swim season, Dankwardt Pool is open daily from 12:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Daily admission costs $3.50 for those 4 years old to 14 years old and $4 for those 15 years or older.

Season passes for children are $75.00 and $90 for adults. Family passes are $150 for up to five family members and an additional $15 per family member.

Swimming lessons are $40 for a six-week session. A link to register for swim lessons can be found on the city’s website. The city offers five levels of swim lessons with four different classes at each level. Those who had registered for a swim lesson during the pool closure will be able to change dates or receive a refund.

The West Burlington swimming pool also will be opening late this year, but in the case of the West Burlington pool, it is caused by staffing shortages.

In years past, the West Burlington pool has been monitored by the Burlington YMCA, but the city announced earlier this spring that it is resuming oversight and operation of the pool.

The swim season had been sent to start Saturday, but since has been pushed back to June 4.

Once open, pool hours will be from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. Admission will cost $4 and a 12-visit booklet can be purchased for $44.

The Fort Madison Pool will open June 4. The pool is open noon to 8 p.m. during the week and closes at 5 p.m. on weekends. Daily admission is $4, and season passes are $110 for an individual, with prices increasing based on number of family members.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Fair temperatures and low humidity in the forecast for Memorial Day