The entire Chain O’ Lakes and Fox River reopened to boating Friday as flood waters continued to recede throughout Lake and McHenry counties.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Fox Waterway Agency in Fox Lake announced collectively that water levels from the Wisconsin border through the Algonquin Dam have dropped enough to reopen the lakes and river to all boating on Friday.
Officials initially said the lower river between the McHenry and Algonquin dams would remain no wake between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday.
However, a review of the Fox Waterway Agency website on Friday showed the lower river had been opened at about 1:30 p.m.
According to a news release issued by the IDNR, the state agency has the authorization to designate restricted boating areas when navigation is significantly dangerous.
The agency has the authority to rescind such closures when it is safe to do so.
The latest announcement comes after heavy rains in northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin caused flooding throughout Lake and McHenry counties, specifically along the Fox River and Chain O’ Lakes.
The high water resulted in numerous roads and bridges being shut down throughout the area.
Among the roadway closures were River Road near Moraine Hills State Park and Rawson Bridge Road in Port Barrington.
The IDNR officially opened the waterway to no-wake status from the McHenry Dam north through the Chain O’ Lakes on Tuesday.
No wake status means boats are allowed to drive through the waterway at speeds low enough as to not create a wake behind their watercraft.
The Chain and Fox River opened to full boating on Wednesday, officials said.