Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain thinks removing the Kimball Street dam along the Fox River is a good idea, but only if it’s feasible and only if it doesn’t negatively affect the city’s water supply.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week released a draft copy of its Fox River Connectivity and Habitat Study in which it was recommended that the nine dams along the Fox River be demolished, including the one that aligns with Elgin’s Kimball Street.
However, the mayor and city officials are concerned that removing the structure could impact the river’s high and low flows and, as a result, create problems with the city’s ability to use it as a water supply source. Elgin began taking its water from the Fox River about 30 years ago when the city started experiencing low water levels in its aquifers, Kaptain said.
“We will not go forward if the water supply is in jeopardy,” Kaptain said. “I want a guarantee that the city of Elgin will be able to draw 20 million gallons a day when the river has a low flow. Otherwise, we’ll be out of water.”
Army Corps officials studied the river from where is starts in southeastern Wisconsin to where it joins the Illinois River in Ottawa and determined that eliminating the dams would help restore, preserve and protect the Illinois River basin.
The change would have a positive effect on the ecosystem as well as help with watershed management and the environment, the draft report said. Many of the dams were built in the 1800s to provide mechanical power for grist and lumber mills but now serve no functional purpose.
According to the report, 70% of the river miles are impounded by dams, meaning native river organisms can thrive in only the remaining 30%. That has an effect on threatened and endangered species of fish and mussels as well as sport fish, it said.
“In general, the Fox River system was transformed from a naturally diverse, free-flowing river into a homogenized system of impoundments,” the draft report said. “The native species’ richness, abundance and health were severely degraded from their natural state.”
Removing the dams would make the Fox completely free-flowing and help restore the habitat, it said.
The study doesn’t address what would happen to the river flow or how dam removal could affect Elgin’s water supply.
Kaptain said the city specifically asked the Corps to answer those questions late last year but never received a response.
The mayor also wants to know what will happen to the homes in the Willow Lakes Estates subdivision, which are built close to the river and might face future flooding issues if the dams are removed.
“There are a lot of moving parts on this,” Kaptain said.
He’s hoping to get more answers when city consultants make a presentation at the Elgin City Council’s 6 p.m. Wednesday meeting, which can be viewed in person at the Robert Gilliam Municipal Center or live on the city’s website.
While the Corps’ draft report didn’t provide information on the potential negative ramifications of dam removal, it stated there are “no legal mandates or requirements by any state or federal agencies to remove any of the study areas dams.”
Algonquin’s dam was not recommended for removal because the idea is “not supported” and serves a primary purpose for recreation, according to the draft report. However, Kane County made plans to remove the Carpentersville dam long before the Corps’ recommendation was released.
Public meetings are planned for next week where a summary of the study findings will be given and feedback can be given. The 5:30 p.m. meetings will be held at the following locations:
- Monday, Sept. 18, Kane County Branch Court, 530 S. Randall Road, St. Charles;
- Tuesday, Sept. 19, Heritage Ballroom, The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin;
- Wednesday, Sept. 20, Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River St., Aurora.
Public input can also be submitted through Nov. 6. Comments or questions should be sent to biologist Ryan Johnson at Fox-River-Study@usace.army.mil.
To view the draft report, go to www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works-Projects/Public-Review-Documents.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
