Chicago-Calumet River Summit: In Defense of Biodiversity

Tags: Attend, Ticketed events, and River education

Chicago-Calumet River Summit: In Defense of Biodiversity

Friday, January 30, 2026

  • 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | VIP brunch (separate ticket required)
  • 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Summit program
  • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Optional networking cocktail hour

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

224 S Michigan Ave #1000, Chicago, IL 60604

Tickets:

  • Standard: $100
  • VIP Brunch add-on: $75
  • Limited discounted tickets available (email tmurray@chicagoriver.org for details)

Registration required - link coming soon

 

Join us at the Chicago-Calumet River Summit, Friends of the Chicago River's flagship policy event! The 2026 Chicago Calumet River Summit: In Defense of Biodiversity will provide an opportunity for environmental and planning professionals, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and students to come together and connect around innovative solutions to protect and restore the health of our region’s waterways for people and wildlife.

Across the Chicago-Calumet River system, biodiversity is under threat. Federal protections such as the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act are being weakened, while climate change, pollution, and habitat loss continue to impact the survival of freshwater mussels, migratory birds, fish, and countless other species. At the same time, communities are stepping up with solutions to safeguard clean water, restore habitat, and advance climate resilience.

In Defense of Biodiversity, the Summit will shine a spotlight on the urgent need to defend cornerstone environmental protections while fostering collaborative, multi-benefit approaches that ensure the river system continues to support people, wildlife, and a thriving regional economy. Defending biodiversity means defending clean water, flood protection, recreation, and cultural connections that people rely on every day.

This Summit is possible because of the collective efforts of Friends of the Chicago River, Chicago Park District, Forest Preserves of Cook County, and many more partners dedicated to improving watershed health and access to nature. Over the years, this event has helped elevate shared solutions, inspire cross-sector action, and strengthen the movement for resilient and biodiverse waterways. We hope you will join us in this important work.