Beach Advisory

Beaches Monitored from Memorial Day through Labor Day
From May to September, the Health Department's Lakes Management Unit samples Lake Michigan beaches 4 days a week. Beaches on inland lakes are tested biweekly. The water samples are tested for E coli bacteria, which are found in the intestines of almost all warm-blooded animals. While not all strains of E coli are the same, certain strains can make humans sick if ingested in high enough concentrations.
Swimcast Monitor
Closures
If water samples come back high for E coli (235 E coli/100 ml), the management body for the bathing beach is notified and a sign is posted indicating the beach closure. Additionally, since rain events tend to lead to elevated bacteria levels in the water column, the LMU advises that persons avoid swimming after a large rain event.

Note: Per the Illinois Swimming Code, there is no swimming at dog beaches.
Bacteria Levels 
 Flag  Status
 green Low Bacteria Levels, No Advisory
 yellow Elevated Bacteria Levels, Caution Swimming Advisory
 red High Bacteria Levels. No Swimming is Advised

Historical Data


See the Illinois Department of Public Health - Environmental Health online resource to view historical data.

National Weather Service Beach Hazards


Check for high wave/rip current warnings.
 

July 21, 2017

  • Inland lake beaches (closed) -
  • (Bluff Lake) Chain O'Lakes Park Sub.
  • (Channel Lake) Turtle Beach Marina
  • (Gray's Lake) Jones Island
  • (Island Lake) Brier Court
  • (Lake Catherine) Warriner's Subd. II Beach
  • (Lake Lakeland) Lake Lakeland Estates


  • Inland lake beaches (advisory) -. 
  •  (Bluff Lake) Lodges Beach



 Beach  Status
 Forest Park Beach  green
Illinois Beach State Park North Beach green
Illinois Beach State Park Resort Beach green
Illinois Beach State Park South Beach green
Lake Bluff Dog Beach green
Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach green
Moraine Dog Beach green
North Point Marina Beach red
Nunn Beach (Great Lakes), Friday - Sunday only
  
Park Avenue Beach
 green
Rosewood Beach
 green
Waukegan North Beach
  green
Waukegan South Beach
  green