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📸 Credit: IDNR’s North Aurora Dam Modification Study
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is recommending removing the Fox River dam in North Aurora with a $3.08 million plan that would keep water flowing through the village’s mill race.
The state, which owns the dam, presented the results of a multi-year study at a public forum on Oct. 15. No final decision has been made.
Here’s what to know:
The options: IDNR studied 10 approaches and narrowed them to two — full dam removal, or dam removal with a new culvert. The recommended option adds the culvert (essentially a large pipe) to keep water feeding the mill race.
The reasoning: According to IDNR, the culvert option would maintain today’s flow when water levels are high and result in lesser flow during dry spells. Some trees would also need to come down. The state would cover nearly all the cost either way. Local agencies would be on the hook for roughly $33,000.
Safety is a factor: The dam stretches 375 feet across the river and sits about six feet above the riverbed. Water pouring over it creates a powerful current at the base that can pull people under and pin them against the structure. At least one person has drowned there. The state also cites cleaner water and more fish as likely benefits.
The river would look different: According to IDNR, the water just upstream of the dam would drop about 5.5 feet at typical flows. Some of the riverbed would become dry land, much of which IDNR says would typically fill in with plants.
Residents had an opportunity to provide feedback during the public forum on Oct. 15. The village encourages anyone with additional commentary to email comments to [email protected] by Oct. 29.
Public feedback goes to the North Aurora Village Board and the Fox Valley Park District (which owns the shoreline next to the dam) as they evaluate removal options.
📖 Thanks for reading
Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.
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