The Fox River’s past and present are coexisting—at least visually—near downtown Batavia with former industrial plants and defunct smokestacks share space with riverfront restaurants and recreational paths. (Suburban Chronicle photo)

The Fox River is considerably cleaner these days but dangers to its overall health persist.

Unfiltered pollutants and industrial waste no longer flow freely and the waterway is now embraced as a civic treasure and a place for recreation and fun as well as a source for drinking water.

There’s even talk of possible national parks designation for portions of the Fox.

But even as the days of heavy pollution and widespread fish kills have passed, the river faces new stress from increased population with dangers brought by sewage discharge and agricultural runoff.
The state of the Fox was among topics explored at last week’s GreenTown Aurora summit on sustainability that drew around 200 people to the one-day session at Two Brother’s Roundhouse.
“The Fox River is a working river, we put a lot of demands on the Fox,” said Cindy Skrukrud of the Illinois Sierra Club. “It provides drinking water, we direct our treated wastewater

and storm runoff into it. We like to paddle and fish in the river. It’s home to rare fish and mussels, the most endangered type of animal on the planet.

“And we enjoy just watching it. We’ve laid out trails for biking and walking alongside it.”

The Fox extends from headwaters near Waukesha, Wis. and runs 223 miles through Illinois counties of McHenry, Lake, Kane, Kendall and LaSalle before reaching the Illinois River at Ottawa.

In Illinois the Fox region includes the Chain O’Lakes recreational areas and state parks, fast-growing suburbs and prime agricultural land.

Aurora Mauor Tom Weisner greets to vendors at last week’s GreenTown Aurora summit at Two Brother’s Roundhouse. (Suburban Chronicle photo)

The watershed is home to an estimated 11 percent of Illinois’ population, according to the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership (FREP), a group of individuals, landowners, businesses, non-profit organizations, agencies and governments in the river region .

The non-profit Fox River Study Group, formed in 2003 with membership from government, environmental groups and civic organizations, said water quality must be addressed.

“The Fox River is in trouble,” the group said in a report last year. “High levels of nutrients enter the river from agricultural and urban runoff and wastewater treatment plans and the many dams on the river provide the ideal environment for algae to flourish.”

Algae blooms cut the level of oxygen and harm fish and other aquatic life.

The Sierra Club’s Skrukrud said stretches near Aurora are among the most impaired, according to an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency report.

The Fox River Study Group plans to issue a plan this year to help reduce pollution and projects to ensure a cleaner, healthier waterway.

One option is removal of some of the river’s dams, which could increase flows and oxygen in stagnant areas.

Kane County, meanwhile, recently joined area conservationists in initial efforts to gain national park recognition for unspecified areas of the river.

FREP will explore steps to gain designation as part of the National Water Trails System, established by the National Parks Service and described as a network of water trails the public can enjoy.