Confluence with Rock River

Just downstream of the Rockford Dam, the Rock River encounters an area of rubble shoals. At low flows, this makes some pleasant riffles. A slightly deeper channel tight to the right makes some decent waves and strong currents as the outflow from Kent Creek enters. At high flows I expect this whole shoals will be covered and would present no boating opportunities. It appears possible that, at some low-to-moderate flows, there could be some tame entertainment possible.

If I recall correctly, this (the Rockford Dam) is an area that some folks were 'investigating' as a possible site for a dam-bypass whitewater play park. In fact, there was some speculation that it could be created as the whitewater venue for Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olymics. That bid ultimately failed, and the possibility of an Olympic caliber course here was probably a pipe-dream (it's doubtful there is really sufficient overall drop, from above to below the dam, to fashion a true Olympic style course). I haven't heard anything lately about any continuing plans for possible fish-passage/canoe passage/whitewater course at this site. As things stand presently, the dam has a nasty killer hydraulic across most of it's width, and boaters are advised to stay well away from the Rockford Dam (both upstream and downstream).