Chicago River Challenge

Past Public Meetings for the Chicago Area Waterway System

See meeting Talking Points below ...

If there was ever a time to get involved with the Sierra Club in Chicago, it is now!  Sierra Club members are needed to participate in public meeitings for the Chicago Area Waterway System.  The Use-Attainability Analysis (UAA) being performed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency provides us the best opportunity in 30 years to impact the health of the local river system.  If we are successful; the sewage currently discharged into our rivers will be safely disinfected; the public will be warned of direct sewer overflows into the rivers; the water quality will improve so that it is safer for us and our children; and new natural habitat and aquatic life will be developed.  The UAA Public Meetings are scheduled for May as shown below:

May 10
The Evanston Ecology Center
2024 McCormick Blvd.
Evanston,IL.60201
7:00 PM

May 11
Downtown Chicago
State of Illinois Building,Rm N505 
160 N LaSalle Street
12:00-2:00 PM

 

May 11
James R.Thompson Center
Room 2-025
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago,IL 60601
7:00-9:00 PM

May 13
Lake Calumet
Southeast Environmental Task Force
13300 South Baltimore
Chicago,IL 60633
7:00-9:00 PM


Talking Points for the Chicago River Public Meetings

Below are Sierra Club talking points to assist you during the Public Meetings. If you are unable to attend the meetings, we encourage you to send written comments to:

Rob Sulski
Bureau of Water
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
9511 West Harrison Street
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016

Please mail your comments before May 13, 2004.

Additionally, we encourage you to download the Chicago River Challenge flyers (see links below) which are on this website to review and give to your neighbors.

Meeting Talking Points:
 

1. Modify the North Shore Channel to create restored wetlands, prairies, and a stream suitable for use by small, non-motorized watercraft.
 
2. Create a shallow aquatic habitat, prairie, and a meandering stream in what is now the North Branch Canal below North Avenue and the southern tip of Goose Island
 
3. Create a prairie, shallow aquatic habitat, and deep aquatic habitat along the south Branch of the Chicago River.
 
4. Create strict E Coli standards. We want the wastewater (MWRD) treatment plants to disinfect wastewater prior to discharge to the Chicago River.

We need volunteers to help out with a variety of activities associated with this campaign. If you are interested in helping, please email ch-water@illinois.sierraclub.org .

Read also the Wild Onion article – I Wouldn't Touch That Water that details more on UUA and detailed locations of the public meetings.

Printable flyers on the Chicago River Challenge:
Solutions for Chicago River Pollution  (pdf)
Get Active and Get Cleaner Water! (pdf).

Additional reference:
www.chicagoareawaterways.org

 
 [ Email this page to a friend ]
Chicago Group Home

<< PAGE BACK