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History and description of the North
Batavia Dam
from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
"Alternative Evaluation Report: Replacement of the Upper Batavia Dam"
(available on the City of Batavia website)
The north dam was originally constructed as a wood and rock crib dam in the
late 1830s. It was replaced with a concrete modified ogee shaped low-head
dam in the early 1900s. The west abutment of the dam was breached in the mid
1970s. At that time repairs were attempted but not successful. Currently
during periods of low flow, all of the flow is conveyed through the breach
and the upstream pool elevation is not maintained at the elevation of the
dam's crest.
Historically the channel bifurcated at a large island which is now a
developed peninsula. The left (east) channel was dammed and the right (west)
channel was converted to a mill race in the early 1900s. When the mill race
fell into disuse, it was filled, leaving the river with only one channel and
about half its original width and conveyance. The remaining portion of the
west channel is now a dead end and is known as Depot Pond. A small,
natural-rock spillway is located just south of the RiverRain residence. This
is known as the "Cut" and it conveys minimal amounts of flow from Depot Pond
to the downstream reach of the river. The majority of the flow is conveyed
through the east channel.
Duck Island, located approximately 400 feet upstream of the dam was created
from a natural outcropping of bedrock.
The east end of the dam abutted to the Challenge Building via a "v" shaped
concrete retaining wall. The wall collapsed on one leg of the "v", which
caused approximately 15 feet of the dam to collapse. |
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Batavians for a Healthy
River believe:
Dam Removal is the Economical Choice
Dam Removal
is the Environmental Choice
Dam Removal
is the Aesthetic & Stewardship Choice
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Read an number of articles on
Dam Safety & Liability Issues
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Photos of the North
Batavia Dam taken September 23, 2003 during low river flow
show the exposed, crumbling, and breached dam
Our beautiful dam? |
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Photos of the North
Batavia Dam taken October 17, 2003: |
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Pond Scum in Depot
Pond -- 10-17-03 |
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Information relating to the
Batavia Dam Removal Project |
 LETTERS TO THE EDITORS &
RESPONSES |
North Batavia Dam Removal
Project
Link to City of Batavia
website pages about this project
Includes
summaries of meetings, the Geotechnical Engineering Report, and latest
updates |
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Dam Fact Sheet: Effects on Stream Quality
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR) |
Dam Removal Tool Kit
Examples of successful dam removal projects
and a a tool kit for
communities considering dam removal
Link to American Rivers website |
Effects of Dams on
Aquatic Ecosystems
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
The Future of the
Batavia Dam:
What's At Stake for Batavia and For
Our Fox River?
(in pdf)
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Overview of the Fox River
and the ecological consequences of dams on the Fox River ecosystem
(in pdf)
David J. Horn,
Assistant Professor of Biology, Aurora University
Summary of
January 29, 2003 presentation in Batavia
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Dam Scorecard
(in pdf)
Our committee has prepared this
"scorecard" to help citizens weigh the merits/disadvantages
of several dam
replacement/removal options.
We invite you to score the options yourself |
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Other Resources on Dam
Removal |
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Aspen Institute Dialogue on
Dams
(in pdf) |
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Photos of Successful
Dam Removal Projects |
Trout Unlimited, Lee Wulff
Chapter - March 2003 Newsletter (in pdf)
Page 1 article about the
positive effects of dam removal on fishing
in the
Baraboo River, Wisconsin
Website:
http://www.leewulfftu.org/ |
Trout Unlimited, Lee Wulff
Chapter -
Report of February Chapter Meeting
presentation by
Helen Sarkinos, Small Dams Program Manager for the River Alliance
of Wisconsin
(in pdf) |
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