Statement Regarding the River Search

“Our hearts go out to the Andrews family as divers search for their loved ones, Edward and Stephania,” said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, which was founded in 1979 as the only organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the 156-mile river system.

“The subsequent discovery of more than 90 submerged cars in the Chicago River is a stark reminder of the river’s past, and ongoing mistreatment, and the urgent need for strong protections and continued investment.

“These are not the first cars found in the river. It used to commonplace. For decades, the Chicago-Calumet River system was treated as a dumping ground. Today, the river’s healthy revival is strong, thanks to bold advocacy, policy breakthroughs, and meaningful investment. Fish and wildlife are returning with abundance, more people are experiencing nature through the river, and communities are reconnecting with it.

“These discoveries show the work is not finished. We must strengthen protections, invest in cleanup and restoration, hold polluters accountable to safeguard the progress we’ve made—and get those cars out of the river!”