Friends at the Stormwater Summit

In September, Friends’ Watershed Policy Manager Tessa Murray connected with new partners and shared insights from Friends of the Chicago River’s award-winning work while representing Friends at the University of Illinois Extension’s Stormwater Leadership Summit at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The event brought together practitioners, local governments, and community leaders from across Illinois to explore solutions for stormwater management, climate resilience, and watershed health.

Participating in the day’s workshops and discussions, Tessa highlighted the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance, initiated by Friends in 2020, as a collaborative model for advancing regional cooperation on water issues, demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can drive innovation, build community capacity, and deliver outcomes that are more equitable.

The Summit reinforced the importance of peer learning and knowledge exchange, and Friends is excited to carry these new connections forward in our ongoing efforts to protect and restore the Chicago-Calumet River watershed.