St. Charles appoints five to task force studying dam removal
With the decision on removing the St. Charles Dam from the Fox River looming, city council members have appointed the first members of the newly created Dam Task Force.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended removal of all Fox River dams in Kane County after conducting a study last summer, which became a topic of controversy across the county.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources owns the St. Charles Dam, and while representatives told St. Charles officials that they would not make any decisions on its removal without the city’s consent, the city must make a tentative decision by October.
The city is expected to take ownership of the dam if it is not removed.
City council members voted to create a task force at their Feb. 5 Government Operations Committee meeting, with the goal of assessing the factors surrounding the removal of the dam and informing the council prior to their decision.
With council approval, Mayor Lora Vitek appointed residents Conrad Newell and Brian Pohrte and alderpersons Ryan Bongard, Paul Lencioni and Bryan Wirball to the task force.
Newell has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in fishery science, and works as a natural resource and environmental regulations consultant, assisting federal agencies on restoration and other projects.
Pohrte has a bachelor’s degree in science and chemistry and a master’s degree in food science. He is a research chemist at Tate & Lyle and vice president of the St. Charles Canoe Club.
The task force will consist of nine members. The remaining members will be made up of three St. Charles Park District representatives (including at least one elected official and resident) and one representative from the River Corridor Foundation.
Board director John Rabchuck will represent the River Corridor Foundation, and the park district is expected to appoint its representatives Tuesday.
Members of the task force will analyze the environmental, economic and recreational impacts of removing the dam.
The task force is expected to engage community members, consultants and experts to weigh in on these items.
The panel will hold public meetings to provide updates and collect feedback on the process, before making final reports to the city council and park district no later than March 1, 2025.
Costs incurred by the task force for engaging with consultants would be split between the city and the park district and any expenditures would have to be preapproved by both.
The task force is expected to begin meeting in March.