Crystal Lake Regatta postponed due to E. Coli levels

A large annual charity event in Crystal Lake has been postponed due to high bacteria levels.

America's Cardboard Cup Regatta at Lake Park Beach, originally slated for noon Saturday, has been rescheduled for July 17, organizer David Tomlinson said.

"We're extremely disappointed due to the nature of community benefit, but also understand. Safety first," he said.

Health department spokesman Joseph Gugle said that samples taken Friday, first made available Saturday morning, showed Lake Park Beach has well above acceptable levels of E. coli. Results were similar the day before.

Event officials had expected record participation, based on the number of 8-foot-by-8-foot cardboard sheets picked up from Crystal Lake Park District's maintenance garage that are used to build the crafts.

Officials close the beaches if they post two consecutive days of 235 or more colony forming units of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water in either the shallow or deep end.

For more information on the rescheduled regatta, visit cardboardcup.com.