Skip to main content

Fox River Stratton Operations Status Update

William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock and Dam

Algonquin Dam

IDNR 2025 Operating Schedule for Stratton Lock

MCHENRY, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) operating schedule for the William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock and Dam facility on the Fox River in McHenry County, opens for the 2025 season on Thursday, May 1. 

Normal operating hours will be seven days per week from 8:00 a.m. until midnight during the months of May through September, and 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. for the month of October.

The Stratton-Bolger facility is closed for the winter season each year from November 1 through April 30.  

Questionnaires

UPDATES

Fox River Update 11/17/2025

To view the full update, click the hyperlink above

*This Update is based on the current forecast and will be adjusted based on future forecasts and rainfall.

SUMMARY

Starting Monday Winter Drawdown begins and will be completed December 1st. This will be the last update until next season, pending any high flow events. There is currently near 0.20” of rain forecasted for the lakes over the next 7 Days (Figure 4). Inflows are forecasted to remain near current levels (Figure 1). Fox Lake, the Upper River, and Pool will all start dropping as drawdown begins (Figure 2). The Lower River is expected to rise starting Monday (Figure 3).