KALKASKA COUNTY, MI -- If you're going to Torch Lake for the annual July 4 sandbar party, expect to see more police patrols.

Authorities on Thursday, June 16, announced plans to dramatically ramp up the police presence after last year's event drew an unmanageable number of visitors that left lakefront homeowners upset and angry.

The announcement about more patrols comes despite a recent court ruling that banned the promoter of last year's event from organizing or sponsoring the party again for five years.

After that time, it can only do so by providing adequate crowd control, noise control, trash, sanitation and safety and security measures.

Beatbox Beverages promoted last year's event and more than 8,000 people crowded onto the sandbar to party.

In the months that followed, Beatbox was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by a group called the Torch Lake Protection Alliance. Beatbox entered into a consent judgment as a result of the filing.

Kalkaska County Sheriff Pat Whiteford on Thursday said he still expects a huge crowd for this year's July 4 weekend celebration.

Related: By the numbers: Arrests and citations at massive Torch Lake party

In fact, Whiteford expects the crowd to rival last year's numbers even without a promoter.

In preparation for the event, state police are quadrupling their forces from previous years. Officers with the Department of Natural Resources law enforcement division have agreed to double their resources and Kalkaska sheriff's deputies will ramp up their forces by 25 percent.

Whiteford said that, as in past years, the Antrim County sheriff's marine patrol is providing the majority of watercraft enforcement.

"The decision to increase enforcement is to further ensure the safety of property and life throughout the event," Whiteford wrote in a statement.

"We would like to see Torch Lake and the surrounding area be used in an environmentally and respectful manner in which all citizens and visitors may enjoy now and in years to come," he said.

E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison