Fox Chain Water Conditions

[pgutmann]

The Fox River from Chain to Algonquin Dam and Chain of Lakes have crested and dropped about 1�. Inflows to the Chain of Lakes are 2740 cfs based on the stream gages at Fox River near New Munster, Wisconsin and Nippersink Creek near Spring Grove. Fox River near New Munster, WI is still almost 2� above flood stage . The Chain of Lake stage is 6.9 feet at Fox Lake. Outflows from Stratton Dam are 5465 cfs with a tailwater stage of 6.5 feet. Algonquin Dam tailwater stage is 11.6 feet.

Forecast
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting minimal rainfall over the next 3 days got for the Fox River watershed. The NWS is predicting that the Fox River near New Munster, WI will drop below flood stage on May 3. The NWS is predicting that the Fox River Algonquin Dam tailwater gage will drop below flood stage on Saturday May 4.

Operations
All gates at Stratton and Algonquin dams are fully opened. The Chain of Lakes and Fox River are dropping 3� per day as inflows to the Chain of Lakes drop. The Chain of Lakes needs to drop 2 feet in order to drop below flood stage and 2.8 feet to return to normal summer pool. Therefore, it will take about 8 days without significant precipitation for the Lakes to drop below flood stage. The Fox River will drop in conjunction with the Chain of Lakes so it will fall below flood stage in the same time period.

A Restricted Boating Area has been issued for the Fox River from Wisconsin/Illinois State Line to Montgomery Dam effective at 3pm April 17, 2013. This restriction encompasses all of the Fox River and Chain of Lakes in Lake and McHenry Counties.

[pgutmann]

May 3, 2013 - Current Condtions
The Fox River and Chain of Lakes have crested and dropped 2 feet. Inflows to the Chain of Lakes are 1920 cfs and rising based on the stream gages at Fox River near New Munster, Wisconsin and Nippersink Creek near Spring Grove. Fox River near New Munster, WI is at flood stage . The Chain of Lake stage is 5.8 feet at Fox Lake. Outflows from Stratton Dam are 4565 cfs with a tailwater stage of 5.3 feet. Algonquin Dam tailwater stage is 10.7 feet. The rainfall overnight was ¼ “ at McHenry while the Wisconsin portion of the watershed received 1”.

Forecast
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting an additional ¼” of precipitation over Fox River watershed today. The NWS is predicting peak flows the Fox River near New Munster, WI will crest at 2450 cfs on May 5 with a 1 foot rise in stage. The NWS is predicting that the Fox River Algonquin Dam tailwater gage will continue to drop and be below flood stage on May 7. These predictions are based on the forecasted precipitation of ¼” over the watershed.

Operations
All gates at Stratton and Algonquin dams are fully opened. Forecasted inflows to the Chain of Lakes will remain well below outflows from Stratton Dam. Therefore, the Fox River and Chain of Lakes will continue to fall but not at the 3” per day seen earlier in the week. The Chain of Lakes needs to drop 0.8 feet in order to drop below flood stage and 1.6 feet to return to normal summer pool.

The Fox River needs to drop 0.8’ to be below flood stage and 1.3’ to be back in bank. A Restricted Boating Area has been issued for the Fox River from Wisconsin/Illinois State Line to Montgomery Dam effective at 3pm April 17, 2013. This restriction encompasses all of the Fox River and Chain of Lakes in Lake and McHenry Counties.

[pgutmann]

Advisories May 6, 2013, 1pm
Foxwaterway Agency has issued a No Wake boating restriction for Chain O Lakes and the Fox River System.