Beaches in Crystal Lake, Highland Park, Lake in the Hills, Island Lake. Waukegan, and Wonder Lake were closed recently until further notice due to elevated levels of E. Coli bacteria in the water. An Island Lake beach was also closed for treatment of algae and duckweed.
Crystal Lake Closures …
Three Oaks Recreation Area Beach
Crystal Lake Main Beach
Lake Park Beach (over 270 units)
(West Beach remains open, according to the Crystal Lake Park District.)
Highland Park Closures …
Highland Park Moraine Park Dog Beach (over 1800)
Rosewood Beach (was over 1800, but near zero June 26, 2025)
Lake in the Hills Closures …
Butch Hagele Beach (over 500 units)
Indian Trail Beaches
Veterans Park (over 1800 units)
Waukegan Closures
Waukegan North Beach (recently over 1900 units)
Wonder Lake Closures …
Deep Springs Wood 2 (over 270 units)
Wonder Woods 1 (over 1200 units)
Lookout Point (recently over 400 units)
Island Lake Closures …
Dorothy Court Beach (over 1200 units)
(closed for algae and duckweed treatment for five days)
See more locations at …
idph.illinois.gov/envhealth/ilbeaches/public
Beaches are closed when both shallow and deep lake water samples included in monitoring conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health or its agents determine that bacteria levels exceed those established in the Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code (235 colony forming units [cfu] of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water is the level at which closing is required). The beach may be closed because the operator voluntarily closed the beach following a heavy rainfall or known incident that may have contaminated the water.
Factors such as natural die-off, wind and wave action, and ultraviolet light from the sun will help to reduce the level of bacteria. The length of time this takes is unpredictable; however, it is usually less than 24 hours.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, he water needs to be resampled and the samples from both the shallow and deep areas must be below 235 cfu of E. coli/100 ml. before the beach will be allowed to re-open. It takes 24 hours after receipt of the samples to determine the bacteria levels.
No one can guarantee the quality of natural bodies of water. The minimal sampling that the Department conducts indicates the water quality only on the particular day the sample was collected and at that specific location. Those sample results are not usually known until two days after the sample was collected. The Department recommends not entering the water if it is very murky or turbid, if it has an odor or if there has been a heavy rainfall within the past 24 hours. Beach patrons should not drink the water and should not enter the water if they have any open sores or skin infections, or are experiencing diarrhea.
— Illinois Dept. of Public Health
Swimmers exposed to such high bacteria could develop gastroenteritis-type illness, with symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, a low-grade fever, skin rashes and earaches. The McHenry County Department of Health advises anyone who experiences these symptoms after swimming at a public beach to contact a physician and the beach manager.
Causes of the elevated levels are usually listed as unknown, but there are multiple causes such as swimmer defecation (especially infants or toddlers), malfunctioning sewage disposal systems, combined and sanitary sewer overflows, storm runoff from rainfall, agricultural runoff, wastewater, wild and domestic animal waste, and illegal sewer connections to storm sewers or roadside ditches, or direct discharges to the lake.
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