All About Riffles

Babbling brooks don't just sound good, they are good and a sign of life because the babble is often really the sound of water flowing quickly over rocks which bounces it around and adds oxygen. Known as a riffle these reaches, which can be as little as an inch deep, also provide protection from predators, food depostion, and shelter.

Continue Reading »

Sold-Out Chicago River Summit Explores Possibilities of Urban Swimming

On March 9, 2017, Friends invited water quality experts, policy advocates, and urban swimming champions from around the country to discuss swimming in our river system. The sold-out Chicago River Summit, entitled "Swimming the Distance: How Do We Get from Here to There," encouraged attendees to understand how we can make swimming a reality.

Continue Reading »

Collaborative Resolution with MWRD Addresses Phosphorus Pollution in Chicago Area Waterways

The Chicago River system is much cleaner due to investment in clean water infrastructure and the Clean Water Act.  However, an overload of phosphorus and other nutrients from wastewater plants continues to pollute these waters. Today, Friends of the Chicago River and other partners reached a milestone collaborative resolution with the MWRD regarding phosphorus discharge from its water reclamation plants. 

Continue Reading »

Bridgehouse Museum Brings Holiday Cheer

The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is much more than a historical landmark...it's also a unique space for pop-up shops like Give A Shirt, which recently raised $7,000 to benefit StreetWise vendors. 

Continue Reading »

MWRD Pilot Project Supports Overflow Action Days

This week the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and Sloan Valve Company launched a new pilot program that could save 585,000 gallons of water annually, through new hybrid urinals installed at MWRD's headquarters.  Mariyana Spyropoulos, MWRD president, challenged local governments to match the MWRD and install hybrid urinals of their own to further conserve water and reduce inputs to TARP and, ultimately, the river.

 

Continue Reading »