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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.  

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UPDATES

Fox River Update 07/10/2025

To view the full update, click the hyperlink above

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

SUMMARY

There is currently between 1.25” to 3.00” of precipitation forecasted for the watershed over the next 7 Days (Figure 4). Inflows are forecasted to peak on Tuesday at 1600 cfs (Figure 1). Fox Lake is forecasted to peak at 4.20’ on Wednesday with the Upper River being slightly lower (Figure 2). The Lower River should expect to see levels increase to above 2.0’ on the Tailwater Gage (Figure 3).