A resident had some fun with a sign in the wake of riverfront flooding (above) even as waters had mostly receded. 

Water levels on the swollen Fox River receded last week, bringing some relief to flood-ravaged communities in northern Kane and adjacent counties.

Then it rained again.

Fortunately, an overnight storm from late Wednesday into Thursday did not add to excessive waters already flowing through the region.

The fury of fast-moving water was on display at a dam and downtown Elgin as a man watches the flows last week.

In fact, water levels continued to slowly drop through late last week and over the weekend. And with no significant rain predicted for coming days, the worst appeared to be over.

The Fox River still remained above flood stage throughout the county and the entire system was still closed to boating in McHenry, Lake and Kane counties.

Two teens didn’t get that message as they ventured onto the river on a raft last week near Lippold Park in North Aurora.

Sandbags may have no longer been necessary late last week as water had receded back into the river, but one home north of Elgin was still pumping remaining water off the property.

Attempting to paddle north against the current, the raft overturned and emergency personnel from North Aurora and Kane County rescued the females.

Police said they were found clinging to a tree and not wearing life jackets. They were not injured.

The northern areas of the county were hardest hit, especially Algonquin which was forced to cancel last weekend’s

Founder’s Day festival and focus instead on flood prevention and cleanup.

Elgin was also hit by what was described asa “microburst” storm. On Walton Island downtown, trees were uprooted and river levels were high enough to close access to the island.

In the aftermath of flooding, Kane County Health Department officials warned

Ducks serenely paddle in a flooded area adjacent to the river last week (top) while a cyclist ponders a closed crossing at Fabyan Forest Preserve. (Photos by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

residents to wear protective cloning while cleaning up and to seek treatment — including a tetanus shot — if cuts or injuries have been exposed to flood water.

The waters can contain bacteria, fecal material, viruses, and other organisms that may cause disease.

“The recent rains in our area have left many families inundated with floodwaters,” the Health Department said last week.” It’s important to take precautions to avoid injury and possible infections.”

The good news by last weekend was no rain in the forecast.

“Friday and the weekend are looking beautiful, with sunny skies and temperatures at or below normal for late July and early August,” the National Weather Service reported. The forecast for Monday and Tuesday in mostly sunny and in the low 80s.

It had already been a wet month for far northern Illinois. In the 30 day stretch of June 23-July 22, Rockford received 11.96 inches of rain. That was the wettest 30-day stretch for the city since 2007 (July 27-Aug. 25, 14.39 inches).

ALGONQUIN

Fox River food levels were down to 11.64 feet last Friday after cresting at 13.15 feet on July 23 at the Algonquin Tailwater. Levels were projected to continued to drop through coming week according to the National Weather Service’s North Central River Forecast Center.

“While the levels are dropping slowly, the village encourages those who have utilized sand bags or other preventative measures, to leave those measures in place until the waters have substantially receded,” the village of Algonquin said on its website.

Current National Weather Service predictions indicate these levels to remain in the moderate/minor flood range for at least the next week.

ELGIN

Wing Park was closed after storms caused damage, including scattered tree limbs in addition to wet grounds. Bridge access to Walton Park was blocked as river waters covered part of the island and at least two trees were uprooted.

The city also reported some power outages after a June 22 storm.

TRI-CITIES

Riverfront parks and lowlands experienced some flooding and some bridges were closed in central Kane County. But there was no extensive damage reported despite high waters moving through.

The Illinois St. bridge and Indiana St. pedestrian bridge in downtown St. Charles was temporarily closed last week but back in operation by Thursday.

In Geneva, planned concerts at Island Park were stitched to River Park.

MONTGOMERY

River levels stood at 13.3 feet late last week, down from a peak of 14.2 feet on July 23.

Waters threatened a handful of houses on the river north of downtown, but properties were partly protected by sandbags and residents appeared to escape any significant flooding.

OSWEGO

Recreation trails along the Fox River and downtown Hudson Crossing Park experienced flooding, which has since receded.

–Fox River flooding finally eases–