Chain O' Lakes likely to be closed all weekend
Flood waters on the Chain O' Lakes and Fox River north of the Chain are receding slightly, according to officials who warn the waterway won't be usable anytime soon.
Fox Waterway Agency officials said they expect the system will remain closed to all boats through the weekend because of debris and other obstructions.
Among the hazards are 15 to 20 acres of runaway floating bogs crews are working to corral. They are in addition to a 10-acre cattail bog that broke free earlier this week from the Chain O' Lakes State Park and blocked the channel between Grass Lake and Lake Marie.
Chain water levels crested early Wednesday and dropped a tenth of an inch Thursday. The Fox River rose slightly in southern areas overnight Wednesday, but seemed to crest Thursday.
The situation could improve today, officials say, if water coming from Wisconsin slows, and allows more Chain water to flow south. That means the Chain would start to recede quicker than anticipated.
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Officials from Lake County Stormwater Management Commission flew over the area Wednesday to do a damage assessment, and are analyzing the data.
Tony Wolff, who headed the project for the commission, said aerial shots were taken from a helicopter for use by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"It also helps give a good idea of the flooding boundaries for future events so we know what to expect, should it ever get this bad again," Wolff said.
Chain water levels remain at about two-and-a-half feet over flood stage, and about 20 inches over the point where homes in Fox Lake, Antioch, Antioch Township and Grant Township become damaged.
About 500 homes in northwestern Lake County are taking on water or have standing water on property.
The National Weather Service says the river is about 8 inches over flood stage in Algonquin, but seems to have crested.
Minor flooding has closed Cornish Park there, and it should remain closed until the water recedes.
The IDNR has closed the river through McHenry, Kane and Kendall counties because of swift-moving currents and large debris. No boats -- including rowboats, kayaks and jet-skis -- are allowed on the river.
People are warned to not swim in flood waters because of contaminants. Anyone with open cuts or other wounds should take extreme care when walking through the water, and should get a tetanus shot or booster.
Lake County and other local governments plan to meet with businesses affected by the floods. The meeting is 2 to 4 p.m. June 26, at Antioch Golf Club on Route 59.