Traffic & Transit
Future Of St. Charles Fox River Dam Remains Uncertain As Federal Study Stalls
The Army Corps of Engineers has paused its study of Fox River dams.
ST. CHARLES, IL — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has paused its study examining the future of dams along the Fox River, leaving communities including St. Charles uncertain about what comes next.
The Corps had previously recommended removing nine dams to improve water quality and wildlife habitat, but the proposal faced opposition from residents concerned about recreation, property values and water levels, according to the Aurora Beacon-News. St. Charles has indicated it intends to preserve the impoundment created by its downtown dam, though the city could still consider modifications to the dam itself.
The federal study has been delayed by funding and administrative reviews, while Illinois officials say they are continuing to explore dam-related projects independently.
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