Fox (Illinois R. trib.),

D) Yorkville: Glenn Palmer Dam Playpark **(Under Construction)** (PnP)

Const Photo 4

Const Photo 4

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
FOX RIVER AT MONTGOMERY, IL
usgs-05551540	n/a	I	01h00m	1860 cfs (rc= -0.9 )
	Under construction! Estimated opening Summer, 2010.

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: Downtown Yorkville (Approximately 12 miles southwest from Aurora, 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago).
Shuttle Length: Carry up (park-and-play)
Character: Playpark in a constructed channel around a dam on a fairly large watershed river (therefore almost always at least some semi-playable flow).

General Overview

The dam at this location has been responsible for more than a dozen deaths, including three Memorial Weekend, 2006 (at a level around 2250 cfs). During the winter of 2008/2009 the dam was reconstructed (so as to not create such a 'killer hydraulic'). Summer/fall 2009 saw construction on an adjacent bypass channel, both as a fish ladder, and as a whitewater playpark. Additional facilities (buildings) are anticipated to allow for this to become a training grounds for prospective area boaters.

The 1200' long channel is anticipated to be open in summer, 2010, and (reportedly) should contain two separate channels -- one being no more than class II (to allow recreational canoes and kayaks to safely bypass the dam), the other channel being up to class III (to allow whitewater boaters a place to practice and play).

There is a parking lot adjacent to the course on the South side of the river, East of Hwy.47.

See the Yorkville Website for more details and updates on the plan and progress on this facility.

A pdf on the overall design of the dam and bypass is available at Chicago Whitewater.
A fine update/writeup is on the Illinois Paddling page.
Additional photos area available at Mike Croak's Fotki page