Libertyville beach remains closed due to bacteria levels

The beach at Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville will remain closed through the weekend due to high bacteria levels in the water, officials said Friday.

Lake County Health Department officials said recent heavy rains and high temperatures have caused a spike in E. coli levels. The department does not check levels on the weekend, so the earliest the beach could reopen is Tuesday, said Mike Adam, senior biologist.

"In some lakes, it could be bad for a week or so," Adam said. "E. coli can be very unpredictable."

North Point Marina Beach and the Great Lakes Naval Nunn Beach on Lake Michigan are also closed due to high bacteria levels.

Adam said the department checks lake levels a few times a month, and a test on Tuesday showed high bacteria.

"We keep resampling every day until it is below a certain number," he said. "It's been high every day we have checked it."