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MWRD will be running a drawdown operation on the Sanitary Ship Canal, Cal Sag Channel, and Chicago River over the period of approximately 10/27 to 10/29/2025

  • Writer: chicagoharborsafety
    chicagoharborsafety
  • Oct 24
  • 1 min read

Monday 10/27 ~6am to Tuesday 10/28 ~6am– Drawdown operation will commence to lower water levels from the normal pool level, -2.00 CCD, to our target level of -3.50 CCD over a period of 24 hours.  The long drawdown period is an effort to minimize high flows and significant elevation differentials within the system.  MWRD will attempt to call everyone on our canal drawdown list individually so that they are aware of what’s going on.  We’ll also provide phone notifications to the Coast Guard / Brandon Road / Lockport Locks should flows exceed 5000 cfs at any point in time.

 

Tuesday 10/28 ~6am to Tuesday 10/28 ~noon – Water elevation will be held at -3.50 CCD

 

Tuesday 10/28 ~ noon to Wednesday 12/29 ~noon – Water elevations will be returned to our normal pool level, 2.00 CCD over a 24 hour period.

 

Wednesday 12/29 ~ noon – End of operation

 

Should you have any questions feel free to reach out to the MWRD system dispatcher at 312.751.5133 or 312.787.3575.



There will be some shallow water and tough boarding for some vessels. Currents will be a concern as well for some of our partners. When they say 3.5 that may mean more up North as the table will be at a gradient.



 
 
 
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