The State of the Fox River 2025 is an annual presentation delivered in January to the public by Friends of the Fox River. It reflects the past year’s impactful activities, celebrates achievements, notifies of challenges, and guides actions to consider for the year ahead. For this article, it is presented as a list of significant events within the watershed that are indicators of its condition. They are organized by category, each with a brief explanation.

River Restoration
The removal of the Carpenter Dam was the overall most significant watershed event of 2024 in a public poll. It was the first of nine proposed and is considered to have provided momentum for other communities. Although the direct impact was primarily local, it provided an example of the process and immediate positive results. The dam removal created the longest free-flowing section of the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail in Kane County.

Cultural Restoration

The federal and state-level actions have reappropriated lands in and around the Shabbona Lake State Park to the Potawatomi Nation. This change in ownership will probably only minimally impact public use, as the property will still be managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It is a very significant effort to recognize the Illegal sale of treaty lands and honor the residents past, present and future

Land Preservation – Public

Hackmatack (the watershed’s only United States Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge) added 985 acres with the acquisition of Tamarack Farms.  It is a very significant addition (1/5) to the refuge property. It is the largest land acquisition in Illinois since the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in 1983. One more big piece in the refuge’s final plan.

Land Preservation – Private

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has designated more than 9,000 acres in Walworth County as the new Delavan Lake Watershed Agricultural Enterprise Area (AEA). This designation marks an exciting step forward for local agriculture, conservation, and the community’s economic vitality.

Located in the towns of Delavan, Geneva, and Walworth, and the village of Fontana, the AEA reflects the commitment of local government, community partners and 11 local landowners to promote agricultural conservation practices. These practices enhance water quality, protect local surface water resources, and foster collaboration between agricultural producers and watershed stakeholders.

Through the AEA designation, landowners can enter into voluntary farmland preservation agreements. These agreements commit all or a portion of their land to agricultural use while maintaining soil and water conservation standards. In return, landowners may be eligible for an annual farmland preservation tax credit of $10 to $12.50 per acre, depending on zoning.

Public Support

The public once again demonstrated the high value that they place on public open space. All county (DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry) Conservation/Forest Preserve District’s referendums passed.  That will facilitate additional land acquisitions, address staffing deficits, and enable new programs and facilities. We love to preserve and enjoy our watershed. 

Biological Status – Fish

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their report from the latest (every 5 years) fishery survey. There were few surprises but good news that the diversity and abundance continue to remain stable. 41,333 fish representing 78 species and 18 families were collected from 41 sampling stations in 2022 (Table A-3). Species composition was like previous surveys, with minnows (family Leuciscidae), accounting for 62% of the total abundance. From the report summary: “The Fox River watershed has a mosaic of stream habitats ranging from low gradient channels in poorly drained soils to higher gradient, rocky streams within defined valleys. The wide diversity of habitats supports diverse assemblages of fishes. Of the 76 native fish species collected during the 2022 Fox River basin survey, four State threatened species were present: American Brook Lamprey, Mottled Sculpin, Ozark Minnow and Blackchin Shiner. River Redhorse, a state-threatened sucker species, was last captured during the 2002 basin survey when only one individual was identified (Pescitelli and Rung 2004). Results of extensive sampling and modeling by Fox River Study Group have confirmed that the major sources of impairment on the mainstem are primarily the combination of high nutrients and impoundments resulting from 13 remaining dams.”

The wide diversity of habitats supports diverse assemblages of fishes.

Biological Status – Challenges

Both the white-tailed deer and Canada goose once were extirpated from Illinois but are now overly abundant. High density is making the deer susceptible to Chronic Wasting Disease, and geese are dying in large numbers of H5N1 Bird Flu. The threat of bird flu to other animals (especially dogs) is growing, and the first human death from bird flu has recently occurred.

Accidents & Responses

Mahoney Creek in Batavia had a spill from a local business accident. The response in public communication from the City of Batavia was exceptional. Technical response was immediate and ongoing monitoring by various agencies (visible on the city’s website) demonstrated readiness for such accidents. 

The Fox River in downtown Elgin had two spills on different dates from the same storm drain outlet. The first appeared to be a petroleum product. The Chicago news station’s helicopters were there as well as the City of Elgin’s Command Center vehicle. Booms were set up to contain the product. The source was not identified.

The second release was tracked back up the pipe by the Public Works department to a t-shirt printing company. A blue dye was mistakenly dumped into the storm sewer. The product’s ingredients were identified and determined to not be a hazard. But it was very blue.

Unwelcome Invaders

The alien zebra mussels entered Lake Michigan and have been prevalent in our watershed. Data is indicating that zebra mussels are now decreasing in Lake Michigan. The alien quagga mussel is on the increase in Lake Michigan. The first quagga mussel in the watershed was discovered in Lake Geneva this past year. We are hoping that the quagga will also begin a decline before it creates serious problems.

New Groups

A new group, Lake County Lake Lovers is quickly growing and building momentum. They are assembling landowners, water quality professionals, experts and schools to monitor lake conditions and address threats. They had two field days with hundreds of high school students and are currently training citizen scientists in the use of sophisticated sampling equipment.

Best Film – “Mussel Matters”

The DuPage County Forest Preserve District in cooperation with The Conservation Foundation produced a short documentary. Mussels Matter is a fun and effective tool for educating the public about the amazing world of freshwater mussels.

Coming in 2025

The Fabulous Fox! Water Trail will have new watercraft launches installed in five communities. Kane County will install up to 12 solar-powered electronic signs along the river. These signs will promote the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail and display real-time updates, such as river conditions, local events, and community information.

A celebratory paddle, along the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail, EL CARDUNAL is planned to be an annual event, on the longest free-flowing stretch of the Fox River in Kane County, Il. More details coming later this month.

Save the date 06/22/2025.

Would you like to volunteer to help? You may contact us at elcardunal@fotfr.org