Friends of the Fox River

Friends of the Fox River Preserve, restore, and protect the Fox River Watershed's resources by connecting people with nature. Get Involved

Make a difference in the Fox River watershed.

What We Do

* We advocate the adoption of practices by individuals and governments that will best protect and enhance the quality of the watershed.
* We advocate for the river when policies that effect the health of the watershed are debated.
* We educate citizens about river issues through our publications and events.
* We train citizens, teachers, and youth group leaders to monitor the health of

the Fox River and its tributaries.

* We use the stream data collected by our Monitoring Network volunteers to keep a watchful eye on water quality trends and take action when appropriate.
* We organize Fox Rescue cleanup events each May and September where thousands of pounds of trash are removed from the shores and waters of the river by volunteers throughout the Fox River Valley.
* We organize river habitat improvement projects.
* We participate in the Fox River Study Group, a diverse coalition of river stakeholders working to improve the current water quality of the river and to prevent future problems. Friends of the Fox River cannot achieve its mission without the participation of concerned citizens like you. Your Friendship will help to maintain our existing programs and assist us in expanding our work in the watershed. There are many ways to be a Friend of the Fox River. Whether you participate in a river cleanup, attend Friends of the Fox River events, or give a donation, you are helping to protect the Fox River and its tributaries. In return, we will provide you with educational events, newsletters, volunteer opportunities, and reports of our activities on behalf of the Fox River. Together we can create the culture of stewardship needed to protect the Fox River now and for future generations. If you have questions about the Friends of the Fox River, please contact us at 815.356.6605.

Dam Removal Europe, a coalition of six organizations working to restore river connectivity, has reported a record 603 ba...
06/26/2026

Dam Removal Europe, a coalition of six organizations working to restore river connectivity, has reported a record 603 barriers were removed across 21 European countries in 2025, beating out the previous year's record by 11%. This CNN article explains why.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/27/world/why-countries-are-tearing-down-hundreds-of-dams-spc-c2e

Europe removed a record 603 dams and barriers across 21 countries in 2025, reconnecting thousands of kilometers of rivers — and the species that live in them.

This week's camp theme is Becoming a Scientist. Monday was Water, and we had guest professional and Board member, Kyla J...
06/25/2026

This week's camp theme is Becoming a Scientist.
Monday was Water, and we had guest professional and Board member, Kyla Jacobsen Elgin's former Water Superintendent.
Tuesday was Soil, with collecting and analyzing samples.
Wednesday was Insects, with a hike between rain drops.
After two weeks of daily observation, the Prickly Pear bloomed.
We are double booked for today, so we collected in preparation some giant Dragon flys and a emerging frog still with a tail.

Excuse us as we continue to glow from ELCARDUNAL 2026.A lot could go wrong, but it was a day of things going right.It ta...
06/24/2026

Excuse us as we continue to glow from ELCARDUNAL 2026.
A lot could go wrong, but it was a day of things going right.
It takes a Team to realize the Dream. Board member Bob Sutton (in orange) assembled that team and orchestrated the whole operation.
We have received a plethora of compliments for the organization and paddler support during the pre, during and post paddle fun.
THANK YOU to everyone for supporting a celebration of the longest free flowing stretch of the Fox River in Kane County.
The local paddling community is rapidly growing and so is caretaking the Fox.
Checkout the blog at FOTFR.org tomorrow for details.

Picture yourself in a boat on a river... this photo is from EL CARDUNAL, courtesy of Kyla Jacobsen.https://shorturl.at/4...
06/23/2026

Picture yourself in a boat on a river... this photo is from EL CARDUNAL, courtesy of Kyla Jacobsen.
https://shorturl.at/4WqGy

THANK YOU paddlers, volunteers, sponsors, municipalities, partner agencies, fire and police departments, restaurants tha...
06/22/2026

THANK YOU paddlers, volunteers, sponsors, municipalities, partner agencies, fire and police departments, restaurants that welcomed event participants, and everyone who made the second annual EL CARDUNAL paddle a great success! More photos, videos, and drone footage to come!

"Sitting beside a river, I am reminded that time moves much the same way—quietly, steadily, carrying away what was, brin...
06/21/2026

"Sitting beside a river, I am reminded that time moves much the same way—quietly, steadily, carrying away what was, bringing what will be, and inviting us to cherish the brief moment we stand on its banks."

Photo Credit: Martin Gawne

Excitement is in the air as we gear up for tomorrow's 2nd Annual El Cardunal paddle from Algonquin to East Dundee. We ar...
06/19/2026

Excitement is in the air as we gear up for tomorrow's 2nd Annual El Cardunal paddle from Algonquin to East Dundee. We are grateful to all of our sponsors, and whoever is in charge of the weather. Come out to the Fox River and cheer us on!
https://friendsofthefoxriver.org/el-cardunal/

Thniking Like WaterInterested in how to transform a degraded watershed into a resilient ecosystem? Check out this docume...
06/18/2026

Thniking Like Water
Interested in how to transform a degraded watershed into a resilient ecosystem? Check out this documentary series featuring restoration pioneer Bill Zeedyks's methods. Watch or host a public screening:
https://thinkinglikewater.com/r3-productions/

Big thanks to the Forest Preserve District of Kane County for our new sign for Schweitzer Environmental Center. Now folk...
06/17/2026

Big thanks to the Forest Preserve District of Kane County for our new sign for Schweitzer Environmental Center. Now folks can answer for themselves: "What is that building for?" We're very proud and the kids from our Nature Explorers Summer Camp really like it too.

Thomas King took this photo while learning to use his 70 year old Graflex Mini Speed Graphic. He feels the structures pl...
06/16/2026

Thomas King took this photo while learning to use his 70 year old Graflex Mini Speed Graphic. He feels the structures placed along the river represent how people have changed the landscape of the Fox River Valley. The nostalgic feel of film shows how the windmill might have been captured with this camera not to long after it was moved to the hillside it now resides on. Thanks Thomas for the look back. Now we'll listen back to a wonderful song...
https://shorturl.at/Qaipu

Address

16N690 Sleepy Hollow Road
West Dundee, IL
60118

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