Current Highlights
Thank you, Chicago River Day Volunteers!!
On Saturday thousands of volunteers braved the weather to clean up and revitalize 70 river edge sites along every reach of the Chicago River! If you were there, THANK YOU! and please give us your feedback, send us your pictures, and tell us your Chicago River Day stories - we want to hear it all!
The Whirlwind was Wonderful!
Chicago River Day 20/20 was a smash success and thousands of people turned out to celebrate at river events including the 5k run/walk, Bridgehouse tours, DePaul lecture, Stickney tours, bridgelifts, pub crawl, animal action day, tattoo day, the Chicago River Summit and, of course, Chicago River Day itself. The winners of the scavenger hunt will be notified soon and Lisa Lubin had a GREAT time with her friends when they stayed overnight in the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. She even got to formally lift the bridge.
Continue to make every day River Day with us! Find out what else you can do on SAM.
Help the Chicago River with a Chance to Win $20,000
Help the Chicago River through the 50/50 Raffle! Buy a $100 ticket with a 1 in 500 chance to win $20,000* to benefit Friends and our work to improve the Chicago River.
1st prize: $20,000
2nd prize: $3,000
3rd prize: $2,000*
Buy your ticket online or call Kasi at (312) 939-0490, ext. 10.
*Total prize money shall be reduced proportionately if less than 500 tickets are sold. Must be 18 years old to purchase. Winner need not be present to win. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Chicago River. The drawing will be held on Wednesday, June 6 at Friends’ 7th annual Big Fish Ball. Only 500 tickets will be sold.
Who’s SAM?
Kicking off Chicago River Day 20/20 activities is the launch of Friends’ new interactive stewardship action map, affectionately known as SAM.
Designed to be an entry point and go-to source for facts, figures, and activities that bring people to the river, the first phase that allows people to search for recreational activities and advocacy opportunities in which they can participate. When the second phase is complete, SAM will also highlight all kinds of efforts that are contributing to the river’s recovery and renaissance and house data and interesting information about the river and the many creatures who lives in and along it.
Meet SAM here
PS For now, try SAM on Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
Good News for the Chicago River
Governor Quinn’s April announcement that the state will contribute $10 million to help clean up the Chicago River is great good news! While some of the media sources got the facts slightly off (raw sewage does NOT go into the Chicago River everyday from MWRD facilities), that $10 million will pay for the elimination of harmful bacterial level pathogens that should be removed during the sewage treatment process. Friends of the Chicago River commends the Governor, a long-time river champion, Mayor Emanuel, MWRD’s David. St. Pierre, and USEPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson for their enthusiasm and support for a clean, healthy Chicago River.
Friends has championed this effort for the last 12 years and is thrilled that we are now in such good company for our cause.
Read all about it in the Chicago Tribune.
Tell Us Your Fish Story
Last month IDNR found an endangered Iowa darter in the North Branch in Deerfield and we were thrilled. Tons of resotration has taken place up there and the fish are starting to respond. Friends of the Chicago River wants to know what kinds of fish you find in the Chicago River and where. Just email us at fish@chicagoriver.org or use this new Chicago River Check List for FISH and go on a voyage of discovery of your own.
And What About the Birds?
Spring is upon us and birds will be flying through and to the Chicago Region by the millions. Make sure you provide them food, water and shelter—and tell us what you see all year around at birds@chicagoriver.org. Use this handy Chicago River Check List for BIRDS.
Clean Water Making Headway and History
In March the MWRD board of commissioners approved the technology plan for their Northside and Calumet sewage treatment plants which discharge as yet un-disinfected sewage effluent into the Chicago River system. This critical investment is the next step in transforming the Chicago River in to the center of so many communities. Find out more about it in the Chicago Tribune.
Friends has been advocating for this major upgrade since our joint report “Waterways for Our Future” was published in 2000.
Are You a Friend of the Chicago River?
Thanks to thousands of river enthusiasts and supporters, Friends of the Chicago River has been at the forefront of the river’s recovery and renaissance since 1979 and as a result the river is becoming healthier and more accessible every day. If YOU haven’t joined as a member yet to help, please consider a gift to help keep our river blue.
• $250 underwrites a two-hour field trip for K-12 students on an unforgettable voyage of discovery
• $100 covers vital supplies for those kids, such as an aquatic net or pair of hip waders so they can right in the river
• $35 purchases 30 Prairie Blazing Star plants for a rain garden which will help increase biodiversity and reduce flooding
Action Plan for the Chicago River
Getting Specific: Strategies for a cleaner, more vibrant Chicago River
The report outlines the future needs of the Chicago River and offers recommendations for river improvement. It is the culmination of over 50 subject-area experts who participated in one of six charrettes and is now available here. (3MB PDF)
In addition, Friends’ Chicago River Matrix (88K PDF), which outlines public access, water quality, aquatic habitat, riverbank habitat, riverbank naturalization and land protection for each stretch of the river, is also available.
Get Your Group on the River This Summer
Experience the magic of the Chicago River through a river outing with Friends. Call now and we can tailor a restoration day in the woods for you and your friends, families, or co-workers; provide a guided canoe tour; or a private viewing of our McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Musem. Find out more by calling (312) 939-0490, ext 10.
Discover the Chicago River from Your Window
Learn about boats, barges, bridges and wildlife through Friends’ illustrated river guide: The Chicago River from Your Window. A complete river enthusiast’s source, the river guide has detailed illustrations of local wildlife and fish, photos of boats and details of bridges. Buy a copy now to learn more about the Chicago River.
Friends’ Offices
Friends’ address is:
28 East Jackson, Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60604-2272
(312) 939-0490
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