The Montgomery Dam is a gravity dam on the Fox River in Montgomery, Illinois. The dam was built for flood control and navigation in 1969 as a part of the Stratton project[1] dam system[2] which was designed to keep the river navagable from the Wisconsin border to the confluence with the Illinois River. It is owned by Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Montgomery Dam
Montgomery Dam located on the Fox river in Montgomery, Illinois
Montgomery Dam located on the Fox river in Montgomery, Illinois
CountryUSA
LocationMontgomery,Illinois
Coordinates41°44′1.28″N 88°20′1.54″W / 41.7336889°N 88.3337611°W / 41.7336889; -88.3337611
PurposeFlood control, Navigation
StatusOperational
Construction began1969
Owner(s)Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsFox River
Height (foundation)7 ft (2.1 m)
Length325 ft (99 m)

The dam is 7 ft (2.1 m) high and 325 ft (99 m) long. It impounds 131 acre-feet (162,000 m3). The Fox River watershed above the Montgomery Dam totals 1,732 square miles (4,490 km2).[3]

For many years, this dam and the upstream North Avenue Dam set the water levels for the Aurora, Illinois stretch of the Fox River.[citation needed] In 2006, the City of Aurora removed the North Avenue Dam, and advocates of a free-flowing river are now seeking removal of the Montgomery Dam as well.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Schrader, Tom (Spring 2006). "IDNR to Rebuild Glen Palmer Dam" (PDF). The Riffle. Friends of the Fox River. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  2. ^ Matile, Roger (July 5, 2007). "The evolution of Fox River dam theory". Oswego Ledger Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  3. ^ "IDNR/OWR Stratton Dam Operations". Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  4. ^ Charlie Zine. "North Avenue Dam Removal". Retrieved 2010-02-27.

41°44′01″N 88°20′02″W / 41.73369°N 88.33376°W / 41.73369; -88.33376