'It needs to stop raining'

The northern Fox Valley's already soggy summer keeps getting worse.

The Fox River spilled over its banks this weekend as storms continued to roll through northern Kane and southern McHenry counties.

Rains flooded backyards, forced the closure of streets and parks and had officials in some villages bracing for more trouble.

Residents in Elgin's Willow Lake Estates and those in the Richardson neighborhood south of East Dundee, for instance, were dealing with flooded yards on Monday.

Algonquin residents could follow suit today, with the National Weather Service in Chicago issuing a flood warning with the river expected to rise above its 3-foot flood stage.

Next door in Lake in the Hills, Deputy Public Works Director David Gregoria said he hasn't heard of too many problems just yet.

But that could change this week if the rain continues to fall as forecast.

"We had some isolated flooding; people had ponding in their yards," Gregoria said. "But if we get too much more rain we will have more flooding."

In Elgin, city officials had to close Walton Island, Eagle Heights Park, the Wing Park Golf Course and city land along Wright Avenue because of flooding.

Elgin officials also blocked off parts of Varsity Drive, after 2 feet of water flooded the road, and a section of Sadler Avenue because of rising waters in Poplar Creek.

There were no reports of residents affected by flooding in South Elgin, officials said.

But after touring the area Monday morning, South Elgin Assistant Fire Chief Bill Sohn said it could be a matter of time.

"There's still a lot of water to come out of the creeks," Sohn said. "The water's going to come here eventually."

The creeks aren't the only problem.

Well to the north, officials in Fox Lake said sandbags were being filled in preparation for the worst.

Water levels along the Fox River in New Munster, Wis., are expected to crest about 4 feet above flood levels this morning.

Those numbers, according to officials at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will cause the Chain O' Lakes and the Fox River to pour into people's yards and could cause extensive property damage.

Fox Lake Emergency Services Disaster Agency Director Ed Lescher said he expects the Chain O' Lakes in Fox Lake to overflow in low-lying areas as early as this morning.

"We're are being proactive and preparing for the worst," Lescher said. "Work crews are filling sandbags right now and we will start distributing them."

To make matters worse, the National Weather Service says it will rain off and on throughout the week, which could keep water levels high.

Because of the high waters, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources closed the Fox River to all boaters from the Algonquin Dam north to the mouth of the Chain O' Lakes. The Fox Waterway Agency officials imposed no-wake restrictions on the Chain O' Lakes.

Fox Waterway Agency Executive Director Ingrid Ruttendjie said that if area waters rise as high as predicted, they could wind up as high as she's ever seen.

"This is real high," Ruttendjie said. "It needs to stop raining."