Friends of the Chicago River
Chicago River Industry

Green FrogClean Water and Healthy Fish

Take Action

Right now you have an opportunity to have a direct impact on the health of the Chicago River by choosing to take action.

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Clean water is guaranteed by the United States Clean Water Act and the Constitution of Illinois, yet every day all kinds of pollution is dumped into our water. This means that while we and our families and friends paddle, fish, swim, Jet Ski or row, we are exposing ourselves to harmful bacteria from sewage that can make us sick.

Friends of the Chicago River believes that we have the opportunity of a lifetime to make a new choice. A choice that celebrates our rivers as well as our lake. A choice that invests in ourselves, our health, our region and our future.

Here is what you can do:

Thank you to everyone who attended the Illinois Pollution Control Board public hearing June 16. More than 100 people turned up in support of disinfecting sewage-based bacteria in the Chicago River and 40 were able to tesitfy that they are tired of dirty water and poor habitat. They want clean water and healthy fish!

Join the growing list of supporters:

Listed as received by the Illinois Pollution Control Board

Robert (Bob) Friedman
Pete Leki and Ben Halphand, NeighborSpace
Nancy Bachman
Greg Borzo
Henrietta Saunders
Benjamin Cox, Friends of the Forest Preserves
Amy Shivvers
Sally Fletcher, Fletcher Chicago, Inc.
U.S. Representative Mark Steven Kirk, 10th Congressional District of Illinois
Nicholas Bianchi
Robert Scholtes
Richard Ross
Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn
Tim Philosphos
Mathew Dunn, National Marine Manufacturers Association
Mike Agostinelli
Alan Pilgrim
Sigrid Pilgrim
Michael Hans
State Representative Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, 24th District of Illinois
Erin Argyilan
Marian Carow
Bob Menard
Pierra and Emily Kornak
Janice Willborn
Michael Allen
April Jean-Baptiste
Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, 10th District
Douglas Gerleman
Seth and Carol Stein
David Solzman
Bharat Meshwani
State Representative Kevin Joyce, 35th District of Illinois
Kevin Bradley, Illinois Paddling Council
Harold. M. Morrison
Ron and Dee Tevonian
Chicago Alderman Scott E. Waguespack, 32 Ward
Hannah Higgins
Barbara Keer
Janet F. Gerske
Mark Duffy
State Representative Elizabeth Coulson, 17th District of Illinois
U.S. Representative Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., 2nd Congressional District of Illinois
Kathryn Callaghan and Jeremy Staum
Matthew V. Scavo
Brandy Kneip
Marguerite T. Vercillo
Sherrie Harris
Barbara Banks
Erika Dominguez
Penny Banks
Robin Martensen
Diana Mendez
Tom Costello
M. Eileen Cleirig
Scott Anderson
Chicago Area Sea Kayaking Association (CASKA)
Chicago River Canoe and Kayak
Chicago Whitewater Association
Geneva Kayak Center
Illinois Paddling Council
Kayak Chicago
Lincoln Park Boat Club
Prairie Coast Canoeists
Prairie Coast Paddlers
Southwest Brigade
The Des Plaines River Association
Wisconsin Canoe Racing Association
Susan D. Lannin
Lawrence M. Kaplan
John Llewellyn
Robert Cassidy
Barbara Gallo-Figler
Lynne Dinzole
James D. Brusslan
Kelly Dougherty
Gerry Bakker
E. Grimm
Eric and Lisa Yondorf
Don Mueggenborg
Suzanne Malec-McKenna, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Environment
Bryan Whitehead
Thomas M. Lindblade, Vice President, Illinois Paddling Council
Douglas M. Reese
Stephanie N. Diers
Rita Renwick, Prairie Parklands Partnership
Forest Preserve District of Will County
Tom Hall
Eric Lev

A Little History

Because of the legacy of pollution that haunts them, the Chicago River, the Calumet and related waterways haven’t been treasured and cared for like Lake Michigan and the outdated standards that govern them reflect that. In fact, since the early days of Chicago, we treated Chicago’s inland waterway system like our alleys, dumping our trash and sewage right into the water, resulting in poor conditions for people and wildlife.

After more than 100 years of this abuse the Chicago River and the others were so polluted that when the Clean Water Act passed in 1972 officials were convinced no one would ever want to fish or swim here and set standards incredibly low.

Fortunately, after years of improvement through leadership and ingenuity by government bodies like the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which implemented enterprising projects like the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, and groups like Friends of the Chicago River that focused on habitat restoration and long range planning for river access and river improvement, the Chicago River and its sister streams are alive with activity both on and under the water.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to do the right thing.

What is Happening Now?

The proposed water quality standards that are before the IPCB for review are the result of a five-year study by the Illinois EPA. This study, called a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA), looked at the rivers’ use and potential use as part of a review process required by the Clean Water Act. From their research, the Illinois EPA determined that the Chicago and Calumet systems are overdue for higher water quality standards that would better support current and future use by people and aquatic life. If approved, the new standards will result in the most significant water quality improvements in over 20 years.

What Waterways are Affected by the Proposed Improvement?

The area under review is known as the Chicago Area Waterways, or CAWS. CAWS consists of the Chicago River, its North Branch and South Branch, the North Shore Channel, the Cal-Sag Channel, the Calumet river system, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Lake Calumet and the tributaries in an area extending from the metropolitan Chicago area to the Lockport vicinity.

What are the Proposed Improvements?

There are a myriad of improvements recommended by the Illinois EPA, but Friends believes that the most critical are disinfection of wastewater treatment plant effluent for people and temperature control standards for fish.

What is Disinfection?

Disinfection is the general term for several processes that can be used to substantially reduce the amount of bacteria that is discharged in water that flows into rivers and streams as a by product of sewage treatment. Releasing water or effluent, as it is called, back into the natural environment is a standard sewage treatment process, yet without disinfecting it first, the amount of bacteria is very, very high and studies show that people who get wet can get sick. In most other major cities the effluent from wastewater treatment is disinfected.

What Does Temperature Mean for Fish?

Native fish species have evolved to thrive in our local environments, or ecosystems. According to fish sampling conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the MWRD, the Chicago River contains a diverse collection of almost 70 species of fish. Unnaturally high water temperatures have a tremendous negative impact on the fish. In addition, such warm water can create environments that are readily utilized by invasive species, such as the Asian carp, that are able to thrive in degraded ecosystems. The proposed water quality standards include provisions that protect native fish.

What Does it Mean for You?

Clean water is guaranteed by the Clean Water Act and the Constitution of Illinois, yet every day all kinds of pollution is dumped into the Chicago River, the Cal-Sag and Calumet River. This means that while our families and friends paddle, fish, swim, Jet Ski or row, we are exposing ourselves to harmful bacteria from sewage that can make us sick.

If the proposed water quality standards are changed to reflect how we use and want to use our rivers than we will all be able to share these wonderful natural and recreational resources that help make metropolitan Chicago a great place to live and continue to ensure that we are leaders in the move to protect our planet.