There comes a point where a potentially decent idea crosses the line from feasible to foolish, and it seems likely the notion of rewatering a portion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in Ottawa has cleared the threshold.
I'm more inclined than many naysayers to support beautification projects, especially those that might be considered unconventional. But when the canal issue resurfaced at a recent Ottawa Canal Association meeting, the discussion left me square in the camp of opposers.
Mayor Robert Eschbach explained the plan, as currently proposed, is to return water to a section of the canal from a recently restored and toll collector's house, perhaps from Guion Street west to the railroad crossing. Motorists crossing on Columbus and La Salle streets would have the sense of going over a canal, instead of the unshakeable ditch sensation that is the status quo.
The water ideally would be deep enough to operate a canoe or paddle boat —about three feet. A decade-old plan suggests piping in fresh water from the Dayton dam or Fox River. A newer idea is to line the section in question with clay or a bentonite/soil mixture and then simply pour in water from the city's fresh water supply.
To the city's credit, the planning to this point has been almost entirely talk. The idea is to develop a preliminary plan that could be submitted to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the agency that controls the canal. Then, the logic goes, the city could act quickly in case a grant or other source of money becomes available.
Many have come forward to discuss reasons this plan doesn't hold water (pun very much intended). What about the feelings of the nearby homeowners? What about unwanted vegetation? Sure, the canal looks great in Morris, but Utica has battled issues with its section for years. Furthermore, it's not as if Ottawa is starved for opportunities for water-based recreation.
Continue reading "Canal revival plan holds no water."
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