Fox (Illinois R. trib.), Illinois, US

D) Yorkville: Marge Cline Whitewater Course at Bicentennial Riverfront Park (PnP)

Const Photo 4

Const Photo 4
Photo taken 08/19/09

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
FOX RIVER AT MONTGOMERY, IL
usgs-05551540	250 - 3200 cfs	II	00h35m	1270 cfs (rc= 0.6 )
	Perhaps optimum playable flows. (We welcome further input to fine-tune characterization of features at various flows.) Gauge (1732 sq.mi. drainage) is 10 miles upstream. Flow in course may be slightly regulated by stop blocks at head of course. New gauge to be installed at site

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: Downtown Yorkville (Approximately 12 miles southwest from Aurora, 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago).
Shuttle Length: Carry up (park-and-play)
Character: "Playpark" in a constructed channel around a dam on a fairly large watershed river (therefore almost always at least some playable flow).

General Overview

The 1200' long channel contains two separate channels -- one being class I-II (to allow recreational canoes and kayaks to safely bypass the dam), the other channel being a "challenge" channel containing one or two class II-III features. to allow whitewater boaters a place to practice and play. In all fairness (and in the interests of full disclosure), this is not a many-featured full-length course (like the East Race in South Bend, Indiana or the whitewater course in Wausau, Wisconsin). It is primarily a canoe-bypass and fish ladder, and a couple of mild playspots. However, it is a wonderful and convenient place for Greater Chicago area (N.E.Illinois) boaters to go play in moving water with playable features, especially since it is likely to hold sufficient flow to be boatable almost 24/7/365! (OK, a bit of exaggeration -- it should have adequate flow all summer for at least some mild play, but it is likely to ice-up and be unavailable in the thick of winter.) Additional facilities (buildings/retail/concessions) are anticipated to allow for this to become an even better 'training grounds' for prospective whitewater boaters in the Northern Illinois area.

There is a parking lot adjacent to the course on the South side of the river, East of Hwy.47.

The background on this facility is that the dam at this location has been responsible for more than a dozen deaths, including three Memorial Weekend, 2006 (at a level around 2250 cfs). So, during the winter of 2008/2009 the dam was reconstructed (so as to not create such a 'killer hydraulic'). Summer/fall 2009 (continuing into 2010) saw construction on an adjacent bypass channel, both as a fish ladder, and as a whitewater playpark..

See the Yorkville Website for more details on this facility.

A pdf on the overall design of the dam and bypass is available at Chicago Whitewater.

A fine article (with photos of boaters in the course) may be found at Dec.2010 Illinois Outdoor

The following YouTube video shows the 'final test' of the course, October 13, 2010, at just shy of 500 cfs.


The following shows some additional play, at 700 cfs.