River Shallows Project Planting Gets Underway

Planting for Friends of the Chicago River’s Shallows Project got underway this month at the Techny Basin Conservation Area along the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River in Glenview. Friends staff and volunteers waded into the water to plant native emergent plant species including Water Willow (Justicia americana), Lizard’s Tail (Saururus cernuus), Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei), and Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow (Hibiscus laevis) along the banks, adding plants that provide valuable habitat for fish, amphibians, insects, birds and other wildlife and can help, reduce erosion and stabilize shorelines.

The River Shallows Project uses nature to help build climate resilience throughout the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system. Water Willow and Lizard’s Tail thrive in the river’s shallow zones where land and water meet. Their extensive rhizomes and roots help hold soil in place, slow runoff and filter pollutants while creating habitat in areas that are particularly important to aquatic life.

 The River Shallows project builds on Friends’ successful instream planting work that began in the North Shore Channel in 2015. More than 18,000 native plants have since been installed in the North Shore Channel and Little Calumet River, where established plant colonies are now expanding naturally and creating habitat and shoreline stabilization.

In the first phases of the River Shallows Project, Friends surveyed river edges throughout the river system, incorporating community knowledge and working with engineers and habitat experts to develop plans for future plantings. Where planting directly in the water is not possible, the project will explore other ways to improve river habitat. The Techny Basin was identified as a highly suitable location for emergent plants. Planting is expected to continue this fall along eroded riverbank in the North Shore Channel in Skokie.