ST. CHARLES – The Fox River's dams will be the topic of discussion during the March program in The Conservation Foundation's Fox River series, "A River Runs Through It: Life in the Fox River Valley."

The program will be from 7 to 8 p.m. March 18 at the Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave. in St. Charles. Preregistration is not required and there is no cost to attend.

Speakers will include Steve Pescitelli, streams specialist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' division of fisheries and Karen Clementi, regulatory and public outreach manager of the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District and member of the Fox River Study Group.

Most of the dams built on the Fox River were constructed in the latter half of the 19th century for power generation or industry. In fact, by 1880, Fox River towns from Carpentersville to Montgomery all had dams. But what function do they provide today, 140 years later?

The program is an introductory presentation about how the presence of dams on the Fox River influence the water quality, habitat, and fish assemblages of this defining feature of our communities, an important resource for recreation, aesthetics, flood conveyance, and drinking water.

The program is supported by The Conservation Foundation, The River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles and the St. Charles Park District.