How the Geneva Dam is Essential to the Health of the Fox River –
What’s really at Stake with Dam Removal
A movement started decades ago in the western United States to remove all dams on rivers throughout this country. The movement has reached us in Illinois, and is threatening to remove 9 dams on the Fox River. The movement functions on the mantra of remove all dams at all costs. There is no consideration to impacts on local communities’ economy, river shoreline wetlands and species which have evolved over the last 180+ years, or the miles of functioning retention ponds and recreational areas which exist upstream of each dam that treat and remove the urbanization pollution which is a part of daily city life in the communities at each dam.
Community Concerns: Water Levels, Recreation, and Property Values
Residents are right to worry that removing the dams will affect water recreation and commerce tied to the river. In 2023, the United States Army Corp. of Engineers (USACE) and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) predicted that river widths will decrease from 25% to 50% with dam removal. Decreased river widths of this magnitude will have a devastating effect on the beauty of the shoreline, parks, bike paths, business districts and will lead to declining property values. The projected cost of removing the dams stands at a base tax payer investment of $14,135,000 in 2007 dollars. This is a substantial investment that covers only a portion of actual removal costs, the remainder falling to local municipalities to fund. In addition, this investment comes with numerous potential risks.
The Unspoken Impacts of Dam Removal
Dam removal will narrow the river by 25-50% and transform expansive water bodies into odorous mudflats. The foul smelling mudflat condition actually occurred in a true to life example in Geneva from 1952 – 1960, when the Geneva dam breached and drained the pond to river levels as predicted by the USACE and IDNR. After 8 years of review, a decision was made to build a new dam in Geneva rather than remove or repair the breached dam. It should be noted that removing the dams and the resultant scouring up of sediment in lower sediment layers behind the dams will likely contain long-buried hazardous waste from age old industrial pollution. Scouring these lower sediment layers pose health risks to wildlife and the communities that rely on the Fox River for drinking water.
- Economic Impact on Local Businesses: Restaurants, hotels, parks, bike paths, and residential areas will suffer when the river’s role as a recreational and tourist attraction diminishes.
- Water Supply Issues: Cities like Egin, which rely on the river for water supply will not be able to meet water demands from the river without spending tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure modifications
- Wildlife Habitat Destruction: The removal of retention ponds created upstream of each dam would destroy acres and acres of wetlands that are habitats for diverse species, including endangered/protected species such as eagles, egrets, heron, and cranes, etc.
The Role of Retention Ponds
Pollution treatment: Urbanized pollution collected from the entire watershed runoff and wastewater treatment discharge naturally biodegrades and is treated and cleaned in the pond and filtered deep rooted wetlands.
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Wetlands created by these ponds absorb CO2, contributing to carbon footprint reduction.
Winter Food Sources: The dams prevent water from freezing, providing year-round food sources for various species.
Financial and Environmental Burdens
The costs associated with dam removal extend far beyond the federally funded $14,135,000 estimate:
Shoreline and wetland restoration: Extensive restoration will be required for the shoreline and wetlands which have developed and evolved over the past 180+ years.
Storm water infrastructure modifications: Storm water piping must be extended and modified to match the new river boundary.
Waste water treatment plant modifications: Intake structures or components will need relocation or modification.
Hazardous Waste Mitigation: Contaminated sediment in lower sediment layers from past industrial dumping will be exposed from river scour which could threaten downstream communities’ drinking water.
Additionally, local municipalities will bear many other miscellaneous costs associated with dam removal projects such as: permitting, acquiring easements for access and equipment and material laydown and management, clean-up of shoreline, exposed river beds, and other areas outside of the dam removal primary project area, etc.
A Viable Alternative: The Stepped Spillway
Instead of complete dam removal, an alternative proposed by the IDNR involves adding a stepped spillway to the existing dams. The solution offers several benefits:
Public Safety: The stepped spillway will eliminate the reverse hydraulic roller or so-called “boil” at the toe of the dam. The existing “boil” at the dam is a public safety issue which has resulted in fatalities. The elimination of this “boil” by the installation of the stepped spillway significantly improves public safety.
Aeration and Aesthetic Improvement: The spillway would aerate the water, thereby improving river dissolved oxygen concentrations, and enhance the river’s beauty.
Retention of Impoundments: The approach keeps the impoundments, provides cleaner water, reduces public safety hazards, preserving habitats and recreational areas.
Risk elimination: The stepped spillway eliminates the risks associated with dam removal such as hazardous waste exposure and habitat destruction.
Conclusion
The stated aims of the dam removal movement which are improving water quality and wildlife habitats CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITH DAM REMOVAL. Removal of the dams will worsen water quality by eliminating the existing retention ponds and wetlands clean-up processes which have evolved for over 180+ years and only exist because of the dams. Dam removal will also destroy existing habitats. For example, much of the Fox River freezes over during winter months. However, the river at the dams does not freeze. Eagles and other wildlife congregate and nest at the dams during the winter to take advantage of the generous open fish food source at the dam. The adverse effects on the environment, species habitat, and the local economy and community well-being cannot be overlooked.
Preserving the dams, the impoundments, and their respective wetlands clean the water, reduce our carbon footprint, provide a healthy and unique habitat for wildlife AND create a spectacular, free environment for recreation. Adding a stepped spillway to existing dams as provided by the IDNR presents a promising alternative that balances public safety and ecological benefits with the preservation of the river’s current uses and attractions. This solution offers a way to improve the Fox River while safeguarding the interest and concerns of Kane County residents and limiting the known and unknown risks associated with dam removal. The stepped spillway further adds to the beauty of the already magnificent Fox River.
