Three area beaches reopen

Three area beaches have reopened after being closed because of high bacteria levels.

West Park Beach and Lake Park Beach (Main Beach) in Crystal Lake are open, as well as East Beach Park in McCullom Lake. 

The following beaches remain closed until further notice:

• Indian Trails, Woods Creek Lake, Lake in the Hills.

• Morrison Park Beach, Lily Lake.

• Deep Spring Woods 1, Wonder Lake.

• Wonder Center, Wonder Lake.

• Indian Ridge 1 South, Wonder Lake.

• Sunrise Ridge, Wonder Lake.

Also under advisory warnings are: Shore Hills, Wonder Lake and Killarney Acres W, Lake Killarney.

McHenry County has 34 beaches on its 13 lakes. During the summer, each beach is sampled every two weeks by health department staff for E. coli.

E. coli levels that exceed 235 colony forming units per 100 milliliters in both a shallow and a deep-water sample collected on the same day will require beach closings, the health department said.

A beach will remain closed until two samples collected on the same day are below the standard level.

Natural die-off, wind and wave action, and ultraviolet sunlight helps reduce the level of bacteria – usually within 24 hours. However, it also takes 24 hours after receipt of the samples to determine bacteria levels.