MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — Mattoon is keeping the beach closed the rest of the season but the lake will stay open.

The area has been off-limits since Thursday due to concerns about toxic algae. Even though city officials received permission from the Illinois EPA to spray for algae, the ongoing heat and rain have forced them to delay the project until the weather becomes cooler.

“Initially, it was more about drinking water safety. But it’s not just affecting Lake Mattoon or Lake Paradise. This issue seems widespread, impacting almost every lake not just in Illinois, but across the whole country. You can see similar problems in places like New Jersey, New York, Idaho, Colorado, Indiana, and Missouri,” explained David Clark, Mattoon Public Works Director.

Clark mentioned that given the current weather conditions, the optimal time for spraying would be either late fall or spring. They are conducting daily water tests to ensure it meets safety standards. In the future, they plan to implement other measures like dredging and irrigation projects to prevent a recurrence of this issue.