Advocating for the responsible preservation of the St. Charles Dam.
Our Mission
We are committed to safeguarding the health of the Fox River and ecosystem by advocating for the responsible preservation of the St. Charles Dam. We believe in the coexistence of the dam and the environment, working collaboratively to ensure their sustainable management. Mother Nature has spent the last 200 years creating our beautiful ecosystem. We 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.
In December of 2023, the city of St. Charles and its Mayor Lora Vitek received a letter from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). In this letter the IDNR offered the city the opportunity to take back ownership of the St. Charles Dam and gives the city the option of making the dam safer with state approved funding.
This fall the Carpentersville dam was removed. Both the Army Corps and the Friends of the Fox had advocated for dam removal because, they argued, the dams were destroying the mussel population. Turned out there was a significant mussel population behind the dam. So much for that argument.
The dams on the Fox River play a crucial role in maintaining its health and usability. They help regulate water levels throughout different seasons, especially ensuring sufficient water flow during drier periods. Additionally, these dams provide essential habitats for various aquatic species that call our river home, including Bald Eagles, hawks, ducks, turtles, fish, mussels and so much more.
According to the IDNR the St. Charles pool has the most robust small mouth bass population on the entire Fox River. A vibrant small mouth bass population has been recognized for decades as a great indicator of a healthy waterway.
Removing our dam would not only disrupt the delicate balance of our ecosystem but also have severe consequences for our community as a whole. Without them, we would also lose access to recreational activities such as boating, water sports, kayaking and canoeing that bring families together and promote an active lifestyle.
Moreover, this stretch of the Fox River has been used for competitive canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and rowing for the past 50 years. This type of competitive sport needs the deeper water the Fox River currently provides.
Removing the dam would also impact many business owners that are located along the Fox Rivers. One local business owner shared that during years of drought, he is able to keep his plant nursery running, due to accessing the water from the Fox to water his crops. Removal of the dam would put undue burden on business owners like this, and the potential of having to close their doors.
Contact Us!
If you have questions, suggestions, or would like to contact our organization, please send an email to foxriverpreservationsociety@gmail.com
Thank You!
Huge thank you to Drew Pertl, who has graciously donated his images to the Fox River Preservation Society. If you would like to support his work he is graciously donating proceeds to FRPS.
You can find him on Facebook @Drew Pertl Photography or his website.