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Rapid IL

Former Dam Site

American Whitewater 41.2876, -89.0524

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

Vermilion River near Leonore, IL Upstream Primary

Runnable: 500.0 – 8,000.0 CFS

Reasonable beginner/intermediate level.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

Description

After a rafter's death and the resulting lawsuit, the river was closed for a couple of years. A settlement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources led to major safety improvements at the site, including large cement blocks to break up the dangerous hydraulic behind the dam and highly visible signage directing all river traffic to the notched right side. In 2021, the dam was fully removed—marking a major improvement for both public safety and the environment.