Sunday, April 13, 2008
Algonquin Residents Await Surging Fox River
My son and I were in Algonquin Saturday and decided to take a look at the Fox River.
The ten-year old really did not want to go.
He was so certain that it would be a bore.
But, after seeing the roiling water, he changed his mind.
He wondered what the smooth places were.
Neighbor Rebbecca Giltner explained that there were strong currents under the water, while warning to stay away from the edge of the river's bank, that the water was very cold.
My son even decided he wanted the job of “picture spotter” after I praised his pointing out a goose that we think was sitting on her nest next to a tree surrounded by the rising water.
“Five cents an hour, Dad,” he bargained.
“Good price,” I said agreeably.
Near “Goose Island,” was a tire in the front yard of the house next to the new park. Geese were swimming under it.
Although I didn't get a photo of it, my son noticed two mallard ducks landing sideways on the Fox. They were immediately and, we believe, unexpectedly swept downstream.
Looking at the trees in the water across the river, it seemed that the high water mark was about two feet above the levels at about 1 PM Saturday afternoon.
Another photographer, Laura Stoecker, was at at the corner where we stopped farther south.
I introduced myself and asked where we would see her photos.
She said in the Daily Herald.
She was really looking for sand bags and the ones across the river were the only ones visible.
I suggested going farther up river.
Our neighborhood guide pointed out how deep the water had been last summer during the third week of August. She said the bench in the picture above had been completely covered. You can see a closer picture of the garage, bench and ducks, here.
Three to four feet higher than the river's level when we were there.
So, how high was it?
Look at the sandbags sitting on top of a step to the left of the house across the river. There are five steps under water that usually lead to the river's edge.
When we looked at the dam, it was hard to tell that it was there.
Right on the south side of the Route 62 bridge, the dam seemed to be only about a foot or so above the water level downstream.
I've never seen the dam the Corps of Engineers built in drier weather, so I'll have to take my son back so we can make the comparison.
Maybe we'll do that on Mother's Day, when the Giangrasso family eats brunch at Port Edward. The view probably won't be like this when we look toward the restaurant.
All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
The ten-year old really did not want to go.
He was so certain that it would be a bore.
But, after seeing the roiling water, he changed his mind.
He wondered what the smooth places were.Neighbor Rebbecca Giltner explained that there were strong currents under the water, while warning to stay away from the edge of the river's bank, that the water was very cold.
My son even decided he wanted the job of “picture spotter” after I praised his pointing out a goose that we think was sitting on her nest next to a tree surrounded by the rising water.“Five cents an hour, Dad,” he bargained.
“Good price,” I said agreeably.
Near “Goose Island,” was a tire in the front yard of the house next to the new park. Geese were swimming under it.Although I didn't get a photo of it, my son noticed two mallard ducks landing sideways on the Fox. They were immediately and, we believe, unexpectedly swept downstream.
Looking at the trees in the water across the river, it seemed that the high water mark was about two feet above the levels at about 1 PM Saturday afternoon.Another photographer, Laura Stoecker, was at at the corner where we stopped farther south.
I introduced myself and asked where we would see her photos.
She said in the Daily Herald.
She was really looking for sand bags and the ones across the river were the only ones visible.I suggested going farther up river.
Our neighborhood guide pointed out how deep the water had been last summer during the third week of August. She said the bench in the picture above had been completely covered. You can see a closer picture of the garage, bench and ducks, here.Three to four feet higher than the river's level when we were there.
So, how high was it?
Look at the sandbags sitting on top of a step to the left of the house across the river. There are five steps under water that usually lead to the river's edge.When we looked at the dam, it was hard to tell that it was there.
Right on the south side of the Route 62 bridge, the dam seemed to be only about a foot or so above the water level downstream.I've never seen the dam the Corps of Engineers built in drier weather, so I'll have to take my son back so we can make the comparison.
Maybe we'll do that on Mother's Day, when the Giangrasso family eats brunch at Port Edward. The view probably won't be like this when we look toward the restaurant.
All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Labels: Algonquin, Flooding, Fox River, Geese, Giangrasso, Laura Stoecker, Port Edward, Rebbecca Giltner, Route 62, Sandbag
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Fox River Flooding
Nunda Township County Board member Mary Donner convinced NASA Education's John Blanchard, whose organization is on Route 31 just up the hill from Terra Cotta, to send some veterans to help sand bag Orchard Heights.
NASA Education employees and those of two other Blanchard companies headed to the Orchard Heights subdivision to join Mary Donner and Nunda Township workers.Under the leadership of Township Road Commissioner Don Kopsell, they filled sand bags so that local residents could do what they could to save their homes from the rising Fox River.
The township had just purchased “The Sandbagger” on Monday, April 1st, for about $18,000
The Sandbagger is a machine that is loaded with sand and then through 4 pour spouts Blanchard’s team is able to produce bags filled with sand, which are then tied off and stacked for the local home owners to use
It was taken to Riverside Drive in McHenry.Bayview Beach was also at risk.
Wednesday afternoon the river was rising at approximately 2 inches an hour.
“This isn’t something that can be finished in an hour or two, but will be ongoing for quite a while until the water starts to subside,” Blanchard said.
Kane County supplied approximately 120,000-130,000 bags. McHenry County only had about 20,000-30,000 bags on hand, requiring Nunda Township to go out and purchase additional bags from an outside source. 
NASA Education is a Crystal Lake-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive workforce and community reintegration services for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition.For more information, contact Amy Johnson at 866-338-4968.
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Pictures from NASA Education. They are of the effort of prepare sandbags to protect Orchard Heights homes in McHenry, Illinois. The two people whose faces can be seen in almost the lowest photo are NASA Education President John Blanchard and McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.
Labels: Amy Johnson, Don Kopsell, Flooding, Fox River, John Blanchard, Mary Donner, McHenry, McHenry County Board, NASA Education, Nunda Township, Orchard Heights, Sandbag, Sandbagger
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Sandbags On Crystal Lake
Present only a couple of the days of the year are these yellow sandbags.They are on the barge near Crystal Lake’s outlet.
That’s the barge from which the fireworks will be ignited Sunday, July 1st.
The excitement begins at dusk, which should be somewhere between 9:15 and 9:30.
Labels: 4th of July, Crystal Lake, Fireworks, Sandbag
