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JOLIET – The state is considering only removal, not renovation, of the Pilcher Park Dam, and its elimination will not dry up Hickory Creek, increase erosion or sediment in the water, or create a stench, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The Joliet Park District released a response sheet Monday from IDNR addressing public questions and comments made at an April 22 public meeting on the dam's possible demolition.
"When we hosted the meeting with IDNR we kept track of most of the questions asked," said Dominic Egizio, the park district's executive director. "We have IDNR responses to some of the questions."
Questions, comments and responses from the document included:
• Why is it more cost-effective to remove the dam than fix it? "Dam removal is a one-time cost. Repairing the dam will have continuing maintenance costs for the life of the dam. If the dam is to be rehabilitated, it will be the Joliet Park District's responsibility to complete and pay for the work."
• Will Hickory Creek dry up if the dam is taken down? "The same amount of water that flows into the pool of the dam flows out over the dam and continues downstream ... Removing the dam will not dry the channel up."
• Will the dam's removal increase erosion? "Removal of the dam will cause a slight decrease in the potential for downstream erosion."
• Will the dam's removal increase the sediment load downstream? "Any ... silt or clay ... currently in the pool upstream will either be removed or left in place and protected from movement."
• We don't want the area to become (a place) where the stench and disease is bad. Removal of the dam should increase the water quality of the river by returning it to its natural state ... [and] lower the chance for disease by eliminating the stagnant water in the pool behind the dam."
Other public questions and comments focused on fish diversity, wildlife, trees, recreation, ice jams and flooding potential.
Egizio said the information will be posted on the district's website. Printed copies will be available at the Pilcher Park Nature Center and Inwood Recreational Center, he said.
The district currently is waiting for IDNR to complete sampling of the sediment in the 3,000-foot pool behind the dam, Egizio said. He didn't expect the sampling to be completed until late fall.
"It's totally an IDNR project at this point," Egizio said.
Save The Pilcher Park Dam Facebook Page, a citizen's group petitioning the various government units involved to prevent demolition of the dam, has collected about 4,000 signatures so far, Dr. Rita Rogan, one of the group's organizers, said Tuesday.