by Gary Mechanic, Executive Director

The Fox River has come a long way from the days when it was the most used and abused river in Illinois.

An 1908 monograph describes the Fox River: “… the tributaries often bring large amounts of sediment, and various manufactories along the river discharge a large amount of refuse into the stream, and it has, of late years, become so foul that nearly all fish except carp and other filth-enduring species have been drowned out.”

A 1914-15 survey of the river by the Illinois Rivers and Lakes Commission concludes, “Now it is in low summer flow a dirty, evil smelling waterway near the cities.”

In 1999 the Fox River was named by American Rivers as one of the most endangered rivers in the U.S (see the report at the bottom of this page).

Now, with the removal of some dams, improved water quality and increased public access, more fish, birds and people have come back to the Fox. So we think it’s a good time to recognize the progress that’s been made, and celebrate our collective success in making the river cleaner and healthier.

Love Our River Days

Friends of the Fox River announces our new “Love Our River Days”, an annual series of river cleanups and community celebrations with music, food, contests, a riverside cleanup and fun for all ages.

The public and local community groups are invited to these free events. Cleanup volunteers (individuals and organizations) must register to receive a free lunch, and other gifts and benefits.

At the time of publication (5/12/18), we have scheduled “Love Our River Day” events on…

Saturday, May 12, in Elgin – CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER!
meet at the west end of Ann St. on the north side of the Gail Borden Library

Elgin “Love Our River Day” schedule: – CANCELLED

8:30am – 9am  Registration, data collector training,

9am – 12:00pm – River cleanup and litter reduction data collection, exhibit setup

11am – 2pm – Live music, exhibits, demonstrations, green business exhibitors

12pm – 2pm – Volunteers & community picnic, live music, exhibits, demonstrations, river poems, canoe rides, green business exhibitors, river stories, FOFR Photos Contest winners art exhibit, prizes and awards.

Saturday, May 19, in Batavia, meet at the Blackard Skate-park (east side of Rt. 25 1/3 mile south of Wilson St.)

Batavia “Love Our River Day” schedule:

8:30am – 9am  Registration, data collector training

9am – 12:00pm – River cleanup and litter reduction data collection

12:00pm – 1pm – Live music, community bring-your-own picnic lunch, river stories, contests, river photos art exhibit, prizes and awards.

Saturday, June 2, in Yorkville, meet at the shelter in Yorkville’s Riverfront Park located on the south side of the Fox River on Hydraulic Avenue a few blocks east of Rt. 47.

Yorkville “Love Our River Day” schedule:

11:30am – 12:00pm  River cleanup volunteer check in and registration

12:00pm – 3pm River cleanup and litter reduction data collection

Following the cleanup Southbank Original BBQ (just downstream from Riverfront Park) and Sweetwater Brewing Company are teaming up to throw a FUNdraiser for Friends of the Fox River. Enjoy live music, Sweetwater Brewing Company’s craft brewed beer and SOB’s exceptional wood cooked barbecue for $25.00 per person and 100% of ALL proceeds will go directly to Friends of the Fox River. But wait, there’s more!

Along with knowing that your money is going for a great cause that affects all residents of the Fox River Valley, you’ll also receive an event t-shirt, beer mug, ticket for 1 free drink, access to all of the entertainment, as well as, a number of other great prizes and gifts that will be distributed throughout the day! And anyone who generously donates their time for the clean-up will receive additional gifts and prizes throughout the rest of the event.

Reducing the Fox River’s Annual “Litter Load”

“We are all friends of our Fox River. Friends help each other in in hard times, and celebrate with them in good times.” says President Gary Swick. “Helping to heal our river by removing trash is important. This year, we are inviting community organizations and residents to join us in several riverside celebrations of our community’s most important resource.”

For many years Friends of the Fox River has coordinated river cleanups with towns, fire and police departments and other community groups from Algonquin to Yorkville. It’s tough to cleanup in the winter cold or summer heat, so we typically run our cleanups in the spring and fall. And while spring high water or floods can delay spring cleanups, collecting the trash accumulated over the winter, before the warm weather and crowds arrive, are usually the most effective and productive.

With the prevailing winds from the west, litter will always blow into the Fox River. But if all we do is pick up litter every year, we’ll be picking up litter forever. Some of the litter in, and along the river, is eliminate-able. To reduce the annual litter load, we’re recruiting data collectors to work with cleanup volunteers to record what is picked up and where it’s picked up. Smartphones and data collection apps make this an easy and fun task. Analyzing the data will identify litter hot spots, the amounts of various types of litter and perhaps even the sources of some kinds of litter. Our goal now is not just to cleanup the river, but to reduce or eliminate those type of litter that can be tracked back to a specific source or location.

So SAVE THE DATE(S) and plan to join us at a “Love Our River Day” event.

TO REGISTER as a Love Our River Day Cleanup Volunteer or litter reduction Data Collector (you’ll need a smartphone) or just help out as an Event Volunteer, please fill out the form below.

Fox River named Most Endangered by American Rivers – 1999 Report

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