After more than two decades, the research is clear. Dam removal along the Fox River is the most effective, economical, and best way to rehabilitate water quality for our Fox River.
Scientific studies performed over the past decades have concluded dams and their impoundments result in widespread detrimental effects to warm shallow rivers. Our Fox has 12 dams between McHenry and Dayton on its main stem alone. Removal of these dams, whether on the main stem of the Fox or its tributary streams will help Fix the Fox River.
As a nation we have had the experience of removing nearly 2,000 dams from American rivers over the past 20+ years. Removing dams from formerly “working” rivers like our Fox that were constructed during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries has resulted in improved water quality, better fishing and wildlife viewing, greatly expanded safety and access for fishers and boaters. There have been and will continue to be significant and substantial new local economic opportunities associated with a clear river having a clean bottom flowing through our valley.
Carpentersville Dam Removed
The removal of the Carpentersville dam is now a reality, and the Fox River is flowing freely from Algonquin to Elgin.
Crews began working on the $1.2 million project in Carpentersville in September 2024 and finished in November 2024. FOTFR Board member Art Malm’s drone video highlights what the river looks like 9 months after its removal.
To get more updates about Carpentersville Dam Removal, visit our Carpenter Overlook Report page.
Not the First or the Last
This long-awaited project is not the first dam removal in the watershed, but a demonstration of the very similar removals to follow downstream. The Kane County Forest Preserve District (KCFPD) held a ribbon-tying ceremony to symbolize connecting two sections of the river.
FOTFR has been a dam removal advocate for over 30 years. Expect to see several events associated with this episode in restoration history. Paddle trips, educational exhibits, and other forms of celebration are in the planning stages.
Below is a graph with the 15 year average flow of the Fox River through Carpentersville shown in red, and the actual flow of the river this past year, shown in blue. This gives us a good view into the most likely river conditions to be expected in June. Throughout dam removal in late 2024 and during most of the winter the river flowed less than half normal for that time of the year. Based on the past 15 years data, and using today’s flows as a baseline, we can expect the river flowing for the Regatta to be three to six times what it is today.
Contact us with your celebration ideas and potential partnerships: info@FOTFR.org.
Check out the KCFPD YouTube page for dam removal in action!
Find the latest project information from the KCFPD at: https://kaneforest.com/location/carpentersville-dam
Together, WE keep on fixin’ the Fox!
Removing Dams along the Fox River
- Restores a free-flowing current, reducing sedimentation and algae blooms while improving water quality
- Connects the river, supporting mussel, fish, and amphibian habitats
- Supports the restoration of habitat for native plants, birds, and small mammals along the riverbanks
- Enhances the Fox River’s ability to absorb and filter urban and agricultural runoff
- Provides increased opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and the use of small boats
- Removes the danger of drowning at dams
- Allows the Fox River to naturally solve many of the water quality problems we face without creating huge increases in utility bills
- Eliminates the annual operations and maintenance costs of dams
A little History
In 2023, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) held three public meetings to discuss the findings of the Tentatively Selected Plan, which recommends the removal of dams in Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, Aurora, and Montgomery to improve habitat, water quality, and the health of the river in perpetuity.
Click here to see the USACE’s website with its report and recommendations
Thank you to all who offered oral comments at any or all of the 3 public meetings, and also to the over 1000 who submitted a written comment during the 60 day period.
Removing dams along the Fox River restores it to its natural, free-flowing state and reverses centuries of environmental decline
Human activity in the Fox River Valley over the past two centuries has led to steady habitat loss and degradation, fragmentation, sedimentation, the influx of algae and invasive species, and the loss of native plants and animals.
The Fox River Study Group (FRSG), which has conducted extensive water quality sampling and river modeling has found that removal of the dams is the most cost effective means to improve water quality concerns that must be addressed, according to the Illinois EPA. Kane County is a contributing member of the Fox River Study Group.
The FRSG’s findings show there is overwhelming scientific research supporting a solution for reversing the Fox River’s habitat loss, pollution, and the dominance of invasive species. Removing dams along the Fox River restores it to its natural, free-flowing state and reverses centuries of environmental decline.
Learn more about the FRSG by visiting: https://www.foxriverstudygroup.org/river-restoration
Find the latest information and news about river restoration on social media using these hashtags: #FreeTheFoxRiver #UnDamTheFoxRiver
Together, WE are a strong voice for the Fox River.
