Since 1790, the US has been gathering data about the characteristics of our population through the national census to guide policy, legislative, and fiscal decision making. This year, in 2020, the US Census Bureau will once again take on the huge task of updating the decennial census database. The accuracy of this information is critical to the work of Friends of the Chicago River and our environmental partners, who work every day to improve our watershed for people, plants, and wildlife.

These creatures are integral to our environment.

Friends of the Chicago River, along with many of its nonprofit partners and colleagues, appear to be the baby in the bathwater these days. New efforts to scrub corruption from the public system include classifying nonprofits as lobbyists, putting them under rules and regulations that result in reducing the outside, alternative voices that organizations such as Friends provide.

Friends of the Chicago River is pleased to welcome Elizabeth O’Brien, a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group at Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC to Friends’ Board of Directors.

How to weigh in on efforts to undermine the National Environmental Policy Act.

Plan introduced by Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) would eliminate polystyrene, reduce single-use plastics.

Centennial Volunteers effort in Forest Preserves of Cook County aims to improve water quality and wildlife habitat, reduce flooding.

Save the dates, save the river!

Friends' Executive Director Margaret Frisbie was a featured guest on the program taped at Lincoln Hall.

Friends' Conservation Programs Specialist Maggie Jones talks bats at Half Acre Beer Co., 2050 W. Balmoral Ave. in Chicago.