The Fox Waterway Agency, 45 S. Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, Illinois 60020 has applied for a 10-year permit from the IDNR, Office of Water Resources to perform maintenance dredging and debris removal at numerous sites on the Fox River and Chain O’Lakes. The proposed work will provide improved navigation, boat access, and maintain navigation depths. The Fox River and the Chain O’Lakes are public bodies of water, and this public notice is being issued pursuant to State rules for construction in public waters.
The locations of the sites vary, but are located on the Fox River – Chain O’Lakes from the Illinois/Wisconsin state line to the Algonquin Dam at Illinois Route 62. The Fox River – Chain O’Lakes includes the immediate vicinities of Channel, Catherine, Marie, Bluff, Petite, Grass, Fox, Nippersink and Pistakee Lakes, and connecting channels. Mechanical dredging method will be used and the dredged material will be hauled away and recycled at appropriate facilities.
There are a total of 134 sites for the dredging work and they are all in public waterways. Algonquin Township has 14 sites, Antioch Township has 44 sites, Cuba Township has 6 sites, Grant Township has 28 sites, Lake Villa Township has 6 sites, McHenry Township has 16 sites, and Nunda Township has 20 sites. Maps showing the specific dredging locations by Township can be seen on our website at www.dnr.illinois.gov/waterresources.
Plans for the proposed work may be seen by appointment at the Northeastern Illinois Regulatory Programs Section office, 2050 West Stearns Road, Bartlett, Illinois 60103. Inquiries and requests to review the plans may be directed to Heather McGowan of the Bartlett Office at 847/608-3116. You may also contact Robert Rinkenberger of the Fox Waterway Agency at 847/344-4147.
Review of this project will be limited to the following issues: 1) Any obstruction to, or interference with navigability; 2) Any encroachments; and 3) Any impairment of the rights, interests or uses of the public or in the natural resources thereof. You are invited to send written comments regarding the proposed work to the Bartlett Office by July 14, 2016.
June 23, 2016