84 organisms that inhabit the bodies of water. In terms of humans, there is the possibility of floodwaters for those who live farther downstream. In 2008, there was an ongoing debate on whether to open the McHenry and Algonquin dams due to communities living on both sides of the dams. Even slight adjustments to the dam by The Illinois Department of Natural Resources would have drastic effects on the surroundings. Civilian Thomas Nozeka reported how he “watched the swift Fox River current sweep away his pier when state officials cracked the dam [Stratton and Lock] open a bit on June 6.”10 Nozeka was able to rush out and wrestle down his pier but, unfortunately, other individuals were not as lucky when it came to their encounters with the dams. Dozens of individuals have lost their lives from drowning at the dams, ranging from children to adults.11 Such grim reports along with personal opinions have garnered many individuals to be against the dams and consequently call for the removal of dams along the Fox River. Environmentalists have expressed their distaste for the Fox River dams as they poorly impact the life and organisms around them. A 1997 edition of the Chicago Tribune shares the opinion of Steve Pescjtielli, a stream biologist. He expressed that “removing a lot of the dams along the river will increase water quality…without any barriers…various species would be free to inhabit all sections of the river.”12 Regrettably, removing dams is not as facile as it seems. Sediment build-up from behind dams could run the risk of harming the wildlife in the bodies of water. As reflected by the planned removal of two hydroelectric dams along the Elwha River, the process of removing the 10 Long, Jeff and TRIBUNE REPORTERS Carolyn Starks, 2008, "Decisions on Fox River Dams Not Open, Shut: State Weighs Multiple Factors on Floodgates," Chicago Tribune (1997-), Jun 18, 2, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/imsa.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/decisions-onfox-river-dams-not-open-shut/docview/2355011136/se-2. 11 Robert McCoppin, "Dozens of Lives Have Been Lost at Dams on Illinois Waterways. Now Efforts Are Underway to Remove Them for Safety and the Good of the Environment," Chicago Tribune, last modified October 13, 2020, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-illinois-dam-removals-20201013-jtcb2h3hpfhkhfgugacsw64lcu-story.html. 12 Gary Gibula Special to the Tribune, "Batavia Looks to Replace Dam Across Fox River: Some Advocate Complete Removal," Chicago Tribune (1997-), Jun 24, 2002, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/imsa.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/batavia-looksreplace-dam-across-fox-river/docview/2325816607/se-2.
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