Friends of the Chicago River

Registration is open for the 34th Annual Chicago River Day on Saturday, May 9. Our spring cleanup event draws thousands to protect and restore the Chicago-Calumet River system. Join us for the largest litter cleanup event of the year! Register at chicagoriver.org.

Overflow Action Day Alert! Heavy rain is expected in the Chicago area today. Reduce your use of water during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality: * Delay showers and baths * Flush less frequently * Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine

Now is the time for @ChicagoDPD to create a River Corridor Master Plan. #chicagoriver chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the…

In 2011, we listed the Chicago River as one of America's Most Endangered Rivers® due to sewage pollution and public health issues. Thanks to the hard work of @ChicagoRiver, the river hosted it's first open river swim in 100 years! 🥳 Learn more: chicagoriver.org/blog/2025/8/fr…

🚨☔ We have issued an Overflow Action Alert. The #MWRD’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (#TARP) system is designed to reduce flooding and pollution caused by combined sewer overflows. Read more: MWRD.org/News: mwrd.org/news/mwrd-issu… @ChicagoRiver

⚠️ We have issued an Overflow Action Alert‼️ Conserve water now to reduce the amount of water in municipal sewers. 💧Delay showers & baths 💧Flush less 💧Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine Learn more MWRD.org: mwrd.org/community-acti… @chicagoriver

⚠️ We have issued an Overflow Action Alert. Conserve water now to reduce the amount of water in municipal sewers. 💧Delay showers and baths 💧Flush less frequently 💧Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine Learn more at MWRD.org: mwrd.org/community-acti…

Spring arrives at the Garden with a flourish of blooms, but this year, many eyes are also fixed on an 80-foot pole rising toward the sky. This platform was built in 2016 to support nesting ospreys, a threatened species in Illinois. Learn more: chgobg.org/3QVvF5C

Join the City of Chicago & @chicagoriver virtually this Wed., March 19, or in person on Wed., March 26, to learn about the proposed notification system for informing the public when combined sewer overflows occur. Learn more & register: chicagoriver.org/events

❄️ Winter weather is coming! Salt enhances safety and helps with icy conditions, but excessive salt use can also harm our local water environment, soil, wildlife, and the paws of our four-legged friends. 🦮🐈🐿️🐾 #SaltSmart this winter: MWRD.org/Salt! 🐢🐟🦝🦅 #MWRD

Overflow Action Alert! Rain is coming. Reduce water use to protect from basement backups & sewer overflows. Delay showers & baths - flush less - wait to run dishwasher/washing machine. Sign up for Overflow Action Alerts: tinyurl.com/4whw6242 @LourdesWGN @WBEZ @adrianamperezr

Our amazing corps of volunteers help us to advance our public policy and engage new communities in our work. We could not do it without them. Learn more at chicagoriver.org

❄ Winter weather is coming! Salt enhances safety & helps with icy conditions, but excessive salt use can also harm our water environment, wildlife and the paws of our four-legged friends. 🐕 🐈 🐿️ 🐾 Learn to #SaltSmart this winter at MWRD.org/salt! 🐢🐟🦝 🦅

It is incumbent on any river-edge developer to protect the river from pollution in every way—and our government agencies to swoop in and stop them when they don’t.”

“This kind of irresponsible behavior can’t stand,” said Friends’ executive director, Margaret Frisbie. “We are just grateful that the community acted right away and reported it to @AldReilly and others.

We are making inquiries into the apparent spill of debris into the North Branch at the new Bally’s Casino site, which occurred on Saturday. Anyone who sees any kind of pollution should report it to @MWRDGC dump line at 1 800 332 DUMP and to us at friends@chicagoriver.org.

DOE recently joined @SE_TaskForce & other community partners for an environmental justice tour of the Calumet River. Thanks, SETF, for the opportunity to learn about the community's history & your future vision from this unique vantage point. 📸: Amy Heldman from @chicagoriver

Happy GIS Day! One way we apply GIS technology is to help people visualize a healthy and continuously connected blue-green river corridor that supports the needs of all people, water, and wildlife. Learn more about river mapping tools here: tinyurl.com/GISday2025 #GISDay2025

⚠️We have issued an Overflow Action Alert. Conserve water now to reduce the amount of water in municipal sewers. >Delay showers and baths >Flush less frequently >Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine

Creep, crawl, and have a ball at the 3rd Annual Eerie Evening, a fundraiser for the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Join us 10/18 for the all-inclusive Halloween party featuring chilling stories of Chicago’s past. Tickets here: tinyurl.com/4p24kb84 #Halloween