Friends of the Chicago River invites you to join us for our popular Litter Free Chicago River Canoe and Cleans.

The hard work of Friends, our partners and volunteers to clear out invasive plant species and increase native plant coverage within the Chicago/Calumet River watershed continues to net strong positive results.

The release of a fish survey of the Chicago River system by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and the Shedd Aquarium this week finds that fish are finding the river more hospitable than they have in decades.

The first meeting of the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance took place this month (virtually) with 14 partners committed to a new collaborative approach to managing stormwater on a watershed basis using nature-based solutions.

Osprey chicks were spotted in early July peeking their heads above the nest perched high atop a 70' pole at the Beaubien Woods Boat Launch.

Dan Schreiner and his two children are an accomplished trash trio. Learn more about their Summer Challenge litter cleanups.

Subscribe today to Friends of the Chicago River's YouTube Channel to receive and watch new presentations about our On-the-Ground Projects, Education and Outreach programs and Policy and Planning initiatives.

In July, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) unanimously passed a resolution honoring Margaret Frisbie for her 20 years of leadership at Friends of the Chicago River.

On Good Day Chicago July 17, Margaret Frisbie discussed the improved health of the Chicago River system and stressed the importance of keeping the river clean during the pandemic by properly disposing of face coverings and gloves, not turning them into litter that ultimately ends up in the river system.

Using the Summer Challenge online map, volunteer Katherine Tellock shares photos and descriptions of her litter cleanups