Marina's dredging to make boating, fishing easier on the Fox

Boaters and anglers alike can anticipate improved public access this summer at one of the Fox River's more popular entry points.

Fox Valley Park District trustees on Monday approved a roughly $170,000 bid from Stiles Inc. of Rockford to dredge the shallow Veteran's Island Marina waters and restore adequate depth around the newly refurbished boat dock and floating pier.

The overhaul is expected to begin by the end of the month and be completed by mid-June.

Several floods that overtook much of the area in 2008 left large deposits of silt in the marina. Later that winter, park spokesman Jeff Long said, jagged ice floes were forced ashore and severely damaged the boat dock.

Bill Donnell, the district's director of natural resources, forestry and special projects, said his crews repaired the launch, rebuilt an accessible boat dock and extended the floating pier.

"That's when we noticed the silt problem and the low water levels," he said.

Removing the silt and sediment will eliminate the inconvenience boaters experience during low-water levels, thus making the marina and launch accessible throughout the boating season.

River enthusiast Charlie Zine called the project a welcome improvement for himself and others.

"This dredging is long overdue as the depth has been reduced from about 8 feet to about 1 to 2 feet, making it impossible for many power boats to use the boat ramp," he said.

Donnell said the improvements should make it easier for everyone who accesses the river there to do so.

"Keeping the marina clear of accumulated silt is an ongoing challenge," he said. "This is a popular boating area and the district is committed to making the marina and boat launch fully operable at all times."

Donnell said the marina and adjacent river areas first were dredged about 30 years ago and most recently, 16 years ago to usher in the arrival of the Hollywood Casino riverboat in downtown Aurora.