St. Charles leaders affirm historical significance and role of the Fox River dam
St. Charles City Council members made it clear this week that the Fox River dam — and impoundment north of it — are important to the city.
Aldermen unanimously backed a resolution affirming the dam’s historical significance and the role the impoundment, or the pooled water above the dam, plays in the city’s economy and recreational opportunities.
Though the future of dams up and down the Fox River has been debated for decades, a 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study recommending the removal of 10 dams from Algonquin to Montgomery revived the issue. The study, which has been shelved for the time due to a lack of funding, prompted St. Charles to create the Fox River dam task force to gather information on the potential impact of removing the dam.
While the resolution does not rule out changes to the dam, it does state the city is committed to working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to “ensure that the impoundment is preserved and usability of the Fox River remains intact and supports community needs.”
The St. Charles dam, once used to produce electricity for Hotel Baker, has long been a focal piece of the downtown district. The impoundment north of the dam is a popular summer recreation spot for boaters and kayakers. The St. Charles Park District’s paddle wheel boat, docked at Pottawatomie Park just north of the dam, regularly cruises up and down the river in the summer months.
The dam also provides a connection between city hall and Hotel Baker — both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize all the things the river provides,” Alderman Steve Weber said. “If the dams were all removed, it would be very catastrophic to all the cities.”
St. Charles City Administrator Heather McGuire noted some key infrastructure — like the riverbank walls and the riverwalk — could be impacted if the dam was removed.
In 2024, the Kane County Forest Preserve District worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to have a dam in Carpentersville removed. The project received some criticism as the river depth and width shrank significantly after the dam’s removal. Supporters, however, argue that removing a dam promotes aquatic life and restores the river to its natural state.
During the 2025 municipal elections, Weber said the dam’s future was one of the most asked questions he heard.
“We were asked at every single stop or public forum,” he recalled.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has authority over waterways, declined to comment Thursday on the future of the St. Charles dam, saying only that it continues to assess its 2024 study.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ work on the Fox River connectivity and habitat study is currently being assessed as part of our efforts to prioritize all of our available resources to maximize the ability to deliver national infrastructure,” said Jacob Zdrojewski, public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District.