Fox River closed south of Stratton Dam

The Illinois Conservation Police are warning boaters to stay off the Fox River south of McHenry County's Stratton Dam.

Capt. Joe Morelock, a boating law administrator, said the lower portion of the river had swollen about four inches Saturday due to heavy rains overnight. The rising water could create significant hazards, such as flooding, submerged piers and debris, and challenging currents, for boaters and other users, he said.

"We don't want people to get hurt," Morelock said.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources first closed the lower river south of the Algonquin Dam on July 24. At noon Saturday, that closure was expanded north to the Stratton Dam until further notice.

Morelock said waterway officials were coordinating with local officials along the river to keep tabs on the situation. He said the Fox River tends to "come down quickly."

Morelock stressed that river users should take the closure seriously. He said preventable accidents put others at risk.

"It's often our fire departments and water rescue people that have to respond to those," he said.