Fox River Current Observations

About the Fox River Monitoring Network

Dive Otter uses a network of USGS mainstem gauges, tributary stations, precipitation stations, dam and tailwater observations, and water-quality measurements to understand conditions across multiple Fox River reaches. The currently collected corridor extends from the upper Fox River through McHenry and Algonquin, then through Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, the Geneva and Batavia corridor, and Montgomery.

No single station describes the entire river. Mainstem gauges show how flow and stage change from upstream to downstream, tributary stations identify localized runoff, precipitation stations provide storm context, and water-quality stations supply measurements where continuous evidence is available. Each pool-level Conditions product uses the subset and proxies appropriate to that reach; a station shown here should not be assumed to measure every pool directly.

Current River Context

Current Fox River context comes from multiple evidence roles rather than one discharge number. Mainstem flow and stage, recent rainfall, tributary runoff, water clarity, temperature and dissolved oxygen help explain how conditions vary across the monitored corridor.

Mainstem stations from the upper river through Montgomery show broad river movement. Tributary and precipitation stations identify local runoff, while McHenry supplies upstream water-quality context where a downstream reach lacks equivalent continuous measurement.

Fox River at Johnsburg

USGS 05548500  •  Upstream Fox River mainstem stage context

Fox River mainstem stage at Johnsburg provides upstream context for how water levels are changing before the river reaches the rest of the monitored corridor.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Gage Height 00065	4.11 ft	↓-0.02	↓-0.05	↑+0.05	4.00 – 7.84 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh

Fox River near McHenry

USGS 05549500  •  Upstream water quality and turbidity proxy

The McHenry station supplies upstream regional water-quality context, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and related measurements. These observations are proxies where equivalent continuous measurements are not available in a downstream pool.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Water Temperature 00010	75.9 °F	↑+1.8	↓-0.4	↓-1.1	74.1 – 82.6 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	4.13 ft	↓-0.01	↓-0.05	→0.00	4.03 – 4.30 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:15 PM	Fresh
Specific Conductance 00095	782 µS/cm	↓-2	↓-17	↓-10	759 – 814 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Dissolved Oxygen 00300	8.4 mg/L	↑+2.4	↑+0.7	↑+1.7	4.2 – 10.0 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
pH 00400	8.30	↑+0.10	→0.00	↑+0.10	7.80 – 8.40 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Chlorophyll Fluorescence 32316	18.65 ug/l	↑+0.74	↓-1.30	↓-0.44	11.78 – 41.36 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Phycocyanin Fluorescence 32319	4.76 ug/l	↑+0.53	↑+1.47	↑+1.33	2.01 – 5.44 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Turbidity 63680	13.9 FNU	↑+1.8	↓-2.4	↑+2.2	7.7 – 36.0 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh

Fox River Tailwater near McHenry

USGS 05549501  •  McHenry tailwater stage and dam-operation context

The McHenry tailwater stage station provides dam and downstream water-level context near the upper end of the monitored Fox River corridor.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Gage Height 00065	1.39 ft	↓-0.10	↓-0.12	↑+0.06	1.27 – 1.61 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:15 PM	Fresh

Fox River at Algonquin

USGS 05550000  •  Algonquin mainstem stage above the dam

The Algonquin mainstem stage station shows water level above the dam and provides upper-corridor hydraulic context.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Gage Height 00065	1.64 ft	↓-0.02	↓-0.04	↑+0.05	1.58 – 1.68 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh

Fox River Tailwater at Algonquin

USGS 05550001  •  Primary upstream Fox mainstem flow and water quality

The Algonquin tailwater station is an upper mainstem discharge reference. It helps distinguish broad Fox River movement from runoff entering farther downstream.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Discharge 00060	659 cfs	↓-25	↓-50	↑+58	596 – 764 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:30 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	5.36 ft	↓-0.05	↓-0.10	↑+0.12	5.23 – 5.49 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:30 PM	Fresh

Tyler Creek at Elgin

USGS 05550300  •  Tributary runoff and precipitation context near Elgin

Tyler Creek provides tributary-flow and precipitation context near Elgin, helping identify localized runoff entering the Fox River corridor.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.02 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh
Discharge 00060	7 cfs	→0	→0	→0	6 – 9 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	5.52 ft	↑+0.01	→0.00	↓-0.01	5.49 – 5.60 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh

Poplar Creek at Elgin

USGS 05550500  •  Local tributary runoff entering below Elgin

Poplar Creek measures tributary runoff entering the Fox River near Elgin and helps identify localized changes below the upper mainstem gauges.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Discharge 00060	3 cfs	→0	→0	→0	3 – 3 2.0d	2.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	0.99 ft	→0.00	↓-0.01	↓-0.01	0.99 – 1.00 2.0d	2.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh

Fox River at South Elgin

USGS 05551000  •  Primary integrated mainstem discharge and stage

The South Elgin station is a key observed mainstem discharge and stage reference used by multiple Dive Otter Conditions products.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Discharge 00060	802 cfs	→0	→0	↑+57	732 – 908 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	12.46 ft	→0.00	→0.00	↑+0.04	12.41 – 12.53 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh

Fox River at South Elgin Tailwater

USGS 05551001  •  Tailwater stage and dam-operation signal

The South Elgin tailwater stage station provides dam and downstream hydraulic context immediately below the South Elgin dam.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Gage Height 00065	6.39 ft	↑+0.01	↑+0.02	↑+0.02	6.36 – 6.45 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:45 PM	Fresh

Ferson Creek near St. Charles

USGS 05551200  •  Local tributary runoff and precipitation near St. Charles

Ferson Creek provides tributary-flow and precipitation context near St. Charles and helps identify localized runoff entering the mainstem.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.00 2.0d	2.0d	Sep 11 2:15 PM	Fresh
Discharge 00060	13 cfs	→0	↓-1	↑+2	11 – 17 2.0d	2.0d	Sep 11 2:15 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	1.41 ft	→0.00	↓-0.03	↑+0.04	1.35 – 1.50 2.0d	2.0d	Sep 11 2:15 PM	Fresh

Mill Creek near Batavia

USGS 05551330  •  Tributary runoff and precipitation near Batavia

Mill Creek provides tributary-flow and precipitation context in the Geneva and Batavia corridor.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.02 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Discharge 00060	1 cfs	→0	→0	→0	1 – 5 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	2.00 ft	→0.00	↓-0.01	→0.00	1.97 – 2.22 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh

Fox River at Montgomery

USGS 05551540  •  Downstream Fox mainstem discharge and stage

The Montgomery station is the lower observed Fox River mainstem discharge and stage reference for the monitored corridor.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Discharge 00060	833 cfs	→0	↑+74	↑+60	730 – 894 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	11.37 ft	→0.00	↑+0.05	↑+0.04	11.30 – 11.41 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh

Blackberry Creek near Montgomery

USGS 05551675  •  Tributary runoff and precipitation near Montgomery

Blackberry Creek provides tributary-flow and precipitation context near Montgomery and the lower portion of the monitored corridor.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.03 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:30 PM	Fresh
Discharge 00060	19 cfs	→0	↓-1	↓-5	17 – 30 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:30 PM	Fresh
Gage Height 00065	3.54 ft	→0.00	↓-0.01	↓-0.06	3.51 – 3.67 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 1:30 PM	Fresh

National Accelerator Laboratory near West Chicago, IL

USGS 415131088143600  •  Regional precipitation context near the lower corridor

The National Accelerator Laboratory station supplies regional precipitation context near West Chicago and the lower Fox River corridor. It does not measure river flow.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.01 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh

DuPage County Airport near St. Charles, IL

USGS 415457088150600  •  Regional precipitation context near St. Charles

The DuPage County Airport station supplies regional precipitation context near St. Charles. It does not measure river flow.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.02 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:15 PM	Fresh

Elgin Water Treatment Facility at Elgin, IL

USGS 420354088170500  •  Regional precipitation context near Elgin

The Elgin Water Treatment Facility station supplies regional precipitation context near Elgin. It does not measure river flow.

Parameter	Current	6h Δ	24h Δ	48h Δ	Trend Range	Trend	Observed	Feed
Precipitation 00045	0.00 in	→0.00	→0.00	→0.00	0.00 – 0.02 7.0d	7.0d	Sep 11 2:00 PM	Fresh

About These Measurements

Values shown are locally archived USGS observations. USGS observations may be provisional and subsequently revised. Temperature is stored in its original Celsius value and converted to Fahrenheit for display.

Short-term change values are raw differences over 6, 24 and 48 hours. Trend graphs use 48 hours for Poplar Creek and Ferson Creek and seven days for the mainstem and water-quality stations.

Feed health describes observation age only. It does not mean the river is healthy, unhealthy, safe or unsafe, and it is not itself a fishing recommendation.