Chain O' Lakes, Fox River declared no-wake due to high water

A no-wake restriction has been placed on the Chain O' Lakes and Fox River due to high water, the Fox Waterway Agency announced Monday.

Executive Director Ingrid Danler said water levels throughout the Chain rose about six inches in the past week, and are expected to continue to rise until Tuesday evening.

The culprit is several days of heavy rainfall in Wisconsin, Danler said. The Milwaukee area, which is the start of the Fox River watershed, received more than 71/2 inches of rain since last week, she added.

River gauges in New Munster, Wis., show the Fox River is expected to level out Monday evening at about three feet over flood stage. That level could cause the Chain to eventually overflow its banks slightly onto lawns in Antioch, Fox Lake and Lake Villa.

Danler said the no-wake area stretches from the Illinois/Wisconsin border south to the Algonquin Dam in Algonquin. A no-wake restriction means boats are not allowed to travel at faster than 5 mph, and are not allowed to create a wake behind their boat.

Violations of no-wake or other boating restrictions during a flood or overflow event are subject to a maximum fine of $500.

She added boaters who use the waterway during the no-wake period should be aware of floating debris and other high water obstructions.

For more information, check the Fox Waterway Agency website at foxwaterway.org.