88 Along with the abovementioned hazards, low-head dams pose a high drowning risk to swimmers, kayakers, and other recreationalists. They are often difficult to detect upstream, and once boaters or swimmers come close to them, the hydraulic pressures and recirculating currents may pull them under. In the past twenty-five years, eighteen people have died near a single dam on the Fox River.7 The optimal solution would be to eliminate or dismantle the dams entirely, but given their design, this is not always feasible. Figure 25 Emergency Rescues at Low Head Dams. Source: Wright Engineering Today, thirteen dams remain on the Fox River, which have been improved and replaced throughout the years. While larger dams are regularly maintained, low-head dams frequently fall into disrepair due to their modest size.8 Likewise, innovation has made hydroelectric power less 7 Cosier, Susan. 2019. “After a Century of Being Dammed Up, Illinois Rivers Get to Go with the Flow.” NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/after-century-being-dammed-illinois-rivers-get-go-flow. 8 Fortey, Ian. 2021. “Low-Head Dams: A Not-So Clear and Present Danger.” Boat Safe. https://www.boatsafe.com/lowhead-dams-clear-present-dan
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