Chicago, Ill. --
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, (USACE) is releasing for public comment the draft Project Implementation Report and Environmental Assessment (PIR/EA) for the Fox River Connectivity & Habitat Study in Kane and McHenry Counties, Ill as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Fox River Study Group are partnering with USACE to assess the feasibility of restoring riverine habitat and connectivity for fishes, mussels, and wildlife along a stretch of the Fox River from Algonquin to Montgomery, Ill. This study is being conducted under Section 519 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.
The draft PIR/EA considered three alternative plans to restore riverine habitat and connectivity including the No Action Alternative. The Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) includes full removal of Fox River dams in the following communities: Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, Aurora, and Montgomery. The TSP would involve demolition, removal, and disposal of the dam structures.
Meetings will be held to provide a summary of the study findings and to hear public comments. Meetings will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dates and locations are as follows:
Monday, September 18 at the Kane County Branch Court, 530 S. Randall Road St. Charles, IL 60174.
Tuesday, September 19 at the Heritage Ballroom at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120.
Wednesday, September 20 at Waubonsee Community College, 18 S River Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506.
The draft PIR/EA is available at: https://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works-Projects/Public-Review- Documents/. USACE is seeking public input and is accepting comments through November 6, 2023. Comments or questions can be sent to Mr. Ryan Johnson, Biologist, at Fox-River-Study@usace.army.mil.