McHenry Co. Beaches Closed Due to High Bacteria Levels

Submitted by the McHenry County Department of Health 

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) conducted beach water samplings at 37 licensed beaches on Thursday, July 17.  

Wonder Center beach, located at 4100 E Lakeshore Drive in Wonder Lake, is on ADVISORY while two other beaches are CLOSED due to elevated bacteria levels: 

• Wonder Woods 4, 5200 Wonder Woods Drive (Wonder Lake)
• Sunrise Ridge, 3800 W Lakeshore Drive (Wonder Lake)

These beaches will be resampled on Friday, July 18. Residents should visit the MCDH webpage at 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 or by calling 815-334-4585.