McHenry Co. Beaches Closed Due to High Bacteria Levels

Submitted by the McHenry County Department of Health

For the upcoming 4th of July holiday, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) conducted beach water samplings at 37 licensed beaches on Tuesday, July 1 and Wednesday, July 2.  

The following beaches are CLOSED due to elevated bacteria levels:

• Hagele (Hilltop), Hilltop Drive (Lake in the Hills)
• Indian Trails, Indian Trail (Lake in the Hills)
• Indian Ridge 1 South, 4601 NE Lake Shore Drive (Wonder Lake)
• Wonder Woods 1, 5622 Woodlane (Wonder Lake)

Beaches on ADVISORY include:

• Wonder Woods 4 (5200 Wonder Woods Drive, Wonder Lake)
• Wonder Center (4100 E Lake Shore Drive, Wonder Lake)
• Indian Ridge 2 North (4519-4603 NE Lake Shore Drive, Wonder Lake)
• Morrison Beach Park (100 Lake Shore Drive, Lily Lake)
  

Public bathing beaches on Wonder Lake remain on a swim advisory due to the recent fish kill in the lake.   Please check the MCDH webpage (www.mcdh.info) for the latest information on these beaches.

To prevent illness associated with swimming, all licensed beaches on the 12 lakes in McHenry County are tested every 2 weeks for E. coli throughout the summer to determine water quality.  Additional and more frequent sampling is done when elevated bacterial levels are found.    

Water sampling results are reported to the appropriate beach authorities. MCDH will post an advisory or closed signage for beaches with elevated E. coli results.  

All beach water results and locations are readily available at the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (click Environmental Health, Public Beaches) or call 815-334-4585.