Fish, Mussels In Fox River To Be Relocated Ahead Of Sanitary Sewer Project In Geneva

GENEVA, IL — Fish and mussels that live in the Fox River will be relocated in the coming weeks in preparation for a project to improve Geneva's sanitary treatment system.

Before a temporary coffer dam is installed and part of the river is drained for construction, crews will safely relocate fish and freshwater mussels.

"The public may observe unusual activity in the Fox River during August and September, such as fish that appear to be floating in the water," Geneva officials said. "No need to worry. This is part of the preparation for improvements to Geneva’s sanitary treatment system."

Passersby may see crews in the river with nets and sampling equipment as they prepare the area for construction. It's a "crucial step" in protecting the Fox River and its wildlife, officials said.

The project is funded by a nearly $13 million loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Water Pollution Control Program. The loan has an interest rate of 2.16 percent and will be repaid over 30 years, officials said.

RELATED: Sanitary Sewer Construction Forces Part Of Fox River Trail To Close

Improvements include installing a new screening building and sanitary sewer crossing in order to enhance infrastructure to continue providing residents and businesses with adequate wastewater treatment. The changes are also compliant with current sewer regulations set by the IEPA.

Construction on the new screen building began in July and will take about a year to complete. The new building with redundant higher-performance screening equipment will replace the existing single-bar screen.

Work to replace the existing 20-inch sanitary sewer river crossing with two new 20-inch sewers started in April and will be finished in 18-24 months. The crossing carries all sanitary flow from the west side of Geneva to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

A part of the Fox River Trail closed earlier this summer to make way for the sanitary sewer project.