Dam in St. Charles, Illinois looking north. Photo by Samantha Hatch, 2022.
In September of 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft of their years-long environmental assessment of the Fox River. The assessment, conducted in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Fox River Study Group, examined the “feasibility of restoring riverine habitat and connectivity for fishes, mussels, and wildlife along a stretch of the Fox River from Algonquin to Montgomery, Ill.”[1] Based on this assessment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the best course of action is to remove all of the dams in Kane County.
Removing all the dams in Kane County will change the landscape surrounding the Fox River. For St. Charles specifically, its dam removal would lower the depth of the Fox River north of downtown to a point at which the boating that is currently enjoyed there would likely be impossible. The width of the river north of downtown at normal flow times would also narrow considerably.
DAM HISTORY
According to an unpublished history of the St. Charles dam by Eric Krupa, Curator of the St. Charles History Museum, the dam “was built in 1836 and is the only dam on the Fox River to retain its original foundation.”[2] This dam made St. Charles a magnet for settlement because water-powered mills could be built near the dam to mill wood, grain, paper, and other needs for white settlers flowing into the area after the Blackhawk War. The dam underwent extensive repairs in 1839, 1881, 1891, 1918, and 1939 and the evidence suggests at least some of the original foundation still exists. St. Charles was settled because of waterpower provided by the dam making the dam a part of the story of the city’s early history.
WHY REMOVE FOX RIVER’S DAMS?
The draft assessment and action plan were presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at several public meetings last fall. The report can be accessed here. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, removal of the dams will achieve these benefits:
· Ecosystem restoration
· Increase fish passage
· Increase water quality
· Reduce flood risk
· Provide long-term cost savings
· Improve life safety[3]
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and IDNR announced last fall that they will pay 100% of the cost to remove the dams. If a city does not want to remove their dam, it has two other options:
1. Keep their dam and take ownership, liability, and maintenance of it.
2. Achieve the restoration program goals with some alternative (see below) and the IDNR will give 65% of the cost of dam removal to the city toward this option.
Cities were given an April 2024 deadline to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a non-binding agreement on the option above with which they wish to move forward. A final binding agreement will be due by each city to the Corps by May of 2025.
OPTIONS FOR THE ST. CHARLES DAM
The non-profit River Corridor Foundation presented an alternative to removing the St. Charles dam on January 17, 2024 at the Arcada Theatre. Over 400 residents turned out to hear about replacing the dam with an “Active River Project” from three-time Olympic kayaker and engineer Scott Shipley. The plan, according to Shipley, would be to create a whitewater park roughly from the railroad trestle at Pottawatomie Park to the current dam. This would create a stairstep of the depth of the river down to its natural depth over that length of the river. The Fox River’s depth north of the railroad trestle would remain the same as it is currently with this plan. Also, the rapids could generate increased tourism to St. Charles and add over $1 million of economic activity to the city. No cost estimates were presented to replace the dam with a whitewater park.
St. Charles residents, especially those north of the dam, have organized a group, Fox River Preservation Society, that opposes removal of the dam. They “strive to protect our river’s precious resources, ensuring a vibrant future for both nature and our communities, while honoring the rich history and legacy of these vital waterways.”[4] The non-profit organization, Friends of the Fox River, on the other hand, supports the removal of the dam, stating that removal “is the most effective, economical, and best way to rehabilitate water quality for our Fox River.”[5] As mentioned above, the non-profit organization, River Corridor Foundation, supports an active river project that they believe “Enhances the environmental, recreational, and economic impact of the Fox River.”[6]
HISTORIC IMPACT
Unclear is the impact on the historic structures and landscapes along the Fox River if the dams are removed. Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley is investigating what this impact may be in St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia. Our role is to critically review all the information available and inform our members and the public on how changes to the Fox River may affect the historic character of the Tri-Cities. We neither support nor oppose dam removal.
CHANGE IS COMING TO THE FOX RIVER
The Fox River, designated a National Water Trail in 2023, is an exceptional asset to all the communities along it. Everyone wants whatever is best to protect the river but there are many different ideas on how to best do that. One thing is clear, according to John Rabchuk, a board member of the River Corridor Foundation, “There are going to be changes [to the Fox River] because the Army Corps intends the dams to come out. The question is, what change do you want?”
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[1] “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases draft Project Implementation Report and Environmental Assessment for Fox River Connectivity & Habitat Study,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Chicago District, September 12, 2023, https://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3527486/us-army-corps-of-engineers-releases-draft-project-implementation-report-and-env/.
[2] Eric Krupa, “History of St. Charles Dam,” January 8, 2024, Archives of the St. Charles History Museum, St. Charles, Ill.
[3] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, “Fox River Connectivity & Habitat Study Illinois River Basin Restoration Section 519,” NEPA Public Meetings, September 18-20, 2023, slide 25.
[4] “Our Mission,” Fox River Preservation Society, accessed January 31, 2024, https://www.foxriverpreservationsociety.org/.
[5] “Free the Fox River,” Friends of the Fox River, accessed January 31, 2024, https://friendsofthefoxriver.org/free-the-fox-river/.
[6] “Creating a Vibrant Riverfront Experience,” River corridor Foundation, accessed January 31, 2024, https://www.stcharlesactiveriver.org/.