CRYSTAL LAKE – High bacteria levels at Main Beach forced the Crystal Lake Park District to cancel the Open Water Swim Race set for Saturday.

About 170 swimmers signed up to participate in the 1- and 2-mile races. All will get a full refund, the district's Recreation Supervisor Joe Davison said.

The races had initially been scheduled for July 14, but were rescheduled to Aug. 4 because of thunderstorms. The event was canceled Friday and won't be rescheduled, Davison said.

The McHenry County Health Department closed the beach, at 300 Lake Shore Drive, for swimming Thursday after water quality tests showed unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria.

This is the second time the popular beach has been closed this season. High bacteria levels kept swimmers out of the water during the weekend after Independence Day.

The closure comes at a particularly bad time for park district residents because nearby West Beach closed for the rest of the season July 29 for construction. Crews will begin razing the 40-year old beach house there next week. It will be replaced as part of a $1.7 million renovation project.

The new West Beach building likely would be completed before the summer of 2013.

– Brett Rowland