DuPage

Public Use Threatened - An article in the Chicago Tribune (https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-dupage-river-public-private-st-0711-20210710-h425h5z7tbaljpcsxnyrlnd4iy-story.html) says the State of Illinois is reviewing limiting access to 'part or all' of the DuPage River after a Plainfield (IL) resident complained to the DNR that tubers were trespassing and trashing private property along the river. (Plainfield is the next town North of Shorewood.)

Although the section of river described in the article (Naperville, Plainfield) is further North than the Shorewood/Minooka/Channahon section described in AW, it describes behaviour that we have seen on this section of the river (see my earlier posts). As noted in my other posts, the Shepley Road 'access' is being threatened due to similar behaviour.

It should be noted that closure of the entire river is not likely, considering the money local governments have spent on promoting the DuPage River trail, but it is certainly not outside the realm of possibility given the political power land owners along the river possess.

Please pass the word. Perhaps it will get to those who need to hear it.

Scout Report - Black Road to Hammel Woods Dam: Flow 500cfs, water temp 49, air temp 59, sunny, boat: RPM Max. This section was scouted as a potential beginner kayaker teaching venue. There's only one whitewater feature on this run. The experienced whitewater kayaker will find little of interest on this stretch.

Put-in/Access: Under Black Street bridge. Park in the DuPage River Access lot (look for signage), the first parking lot West of I-55 on the South side of Black Road. There's a foot path from the lot going under the bridge. Watch out for joggers and bicyclists. Immediately downstream of the bridge on river right is a red sign that warns of a low head dam 1.5 miles ahead.

Soon (about a 1000 feet) after the put-in the river will curve to the right, then to the left. The river then splits right and left around a large island. The right path carries more current. The left path is more prone to scraping and deadfall, but both were navigable at this flow. This is actually the entrance to a small bunch of fishnet islands (check it out on Google Maps). If you go to the right, avoid the temptation to go down alternative paths; stay in the main flow. The river up to and including the fishnet islands can give some eddy and river reading practice for an absolute beginner.

After the two steams rejoin, the river will make a turn to the left. The only 'whitewater' feature is just after this turn. You can barely see it on Google Maps. Just after the turn to the left, there is a small ledge that creates a surf wave that can be caught on the fly, or attained mostly on river right with some effort. By the way, you are just over half-way through the trip at this point.

After the surf wave, it is pretty much a paddle out to the dam take-out. The water velocity will slow in the pond above the dam, so there's little danger of being swept over the dam by the current HOWEVER; the 'horizon line' is very difficult to see. It is very subtle and even experienced paddlers may have trouble seeing it. The nice thing is only the most inept paddlers would not be able to paddle away from the dam once they realize it is there. There is a red sign river right about 100 yards above the dam that indicates the take out and mandatory portage.

Potential Access Issue: There are separate issues here, so please read carefully; I'll try to be clear.

On March 14, 2021 I noted that new signs were put up on the land west of the river up and downstream of the Shepley Road Bridge identifying the land as being owned and maintained by the Forest Preserve District of Will County (IL), and was governed by Ordinance #124. Ordinance #124 (Chapter IV, Section 2) stipulates that putting on or taking off of water craft is forbidden on such land unless designated an access point (which Shepley Road is not.)

I spoke with a conservation officer the same day and he told me they were not currently enforcing the restriction and were allowing people to use the area immediately adjacent to the bridge as an access. However, he also stated that there have been several issues with various boaters at that location, including fights, alcohol abuse, trespassing and abuse to adjacent private property.

About 100 yards downstream of the bridge on the west (right) bank (the left bank appears to be all privately owned), the land converts to private ownership. In the past I've always asked for, and received, permission from the private land owner to use his property to take out. However, today he reluctantly declined. He stated he has been having problems with various river users abusing his property (trash, damage, theft), and has been getting grief from his neighbors for granting permission.

While it appears the majority of the people causing issues are not dedicated kayakers or canoeists (the land owner, the officer and a random fisherman we spoke with all indicate it's mostly tubers), the lack of respect for nature preserves and private property threaten the use of Shepley Road as a take-out. Please spread the word to your groups and clubs. Dan

The 'normal' putin just below Hammel Woods dam is returned following some improvement activities. This river was used for the 2013 CWA Beginner I trips at around 1,000 cfs and was very good. I would take a beginner trip on this stretch up to 2, 000 cfs. I've seen it at 8,000 and would NOT take a beginner on it at that flow. I'll keep posting as my experience base grows.

This river is used by the Chicago Whitewater Association for their entry level Beginner I river trips. Check out CWA's web-site for more information. The 'normal' put in at Hammel Woods is not available spring 2013 due to reconstruction work. An alternate put-in at the pedestrian bridge in the little park in Shorewood works well also. This river has been used for instruction from a low of around 200cfs up to 600cfs, and is usable for a teaching river up to 2000 cfs and provides a venue for stroke work, eddie work, ferrying, and other ACA Course Level 3 type teaching. The normal take-out for the CWA trips is at the Shepley Road bridge (see map) just before the island/constriction at mile 5.8. CWA typically does not go all the way the the take-out shown on the map.