Dams on Illinois rivers alter wildlife habitat by flooding the stream corridor above the dam and changing the natural seasonal fluctuations in water level below. These alterations have a negative effect on the wildlife dependent on the streambed for survival and certainly effect species downstream as well.
Not only do dams alter the ecosystem, but they are also extremely dangerous. Every year people accidentally die because of dams. By getting too close, paddlers, waders, fishermen, and other people enjoying time in their local river can easily get sucked into the current and trapped in the hydraulic effect (boil and backwash) dams create.
- Low Head Dam
For a good description of the dangerous currents dams create and a list of some of the dams in the Chicago area visit:
http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/dam.html
Click here for recent information on dams and dam safety in Illinois.
So please remember, BE ALERT when you are on the river and stay away from low head dams!