5th District U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley's July 3 guest column concluded with the statement that if we work together "one day we might be able to swim in the river." Published in the Chicago Sun-Times, the story celebrated Friends' new Overflow Action Day program and encourages people to take the Overflow Action Day pledge. 

Although you can't see it the Chicago Reader says the biggest news in water quality improvements in decades is the addition of sewage effluent disinfection at two of sewage treatment plants discharging to the Chicago River. "Friends and our partners worked tirelessly for over a decade to see this day," said Margaret Frisbie, Friends' executive director.

Bringing the total of channel catfish released into the Chicago River system by Friends and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to over a quarter of a million fish, on May 18 an additional 82,000 juvenile catfish were allowed to swim free in the Little Calumet River.

On Tuesday, May 17 Friends of the Chicago River and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) released 2,000 juvenile northern pike into the North Shore Channel. Part of a project to restore the channel funded through the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund, Friends and IDNR will start planting water willow and lizard's tail next summer to improve conditions for fish and other aquatic life.

Great Rivers Chicago is wrapping up and thousands of people have weighed in with their hopes and dreams and thoughts about the Chicago River. Regarding the massive planning process, Friends’ executive director, Margaret Frisbie said, “I’ve been inspired to hear people speak about the river with passion and excitement." 

While the sun wasn't shining but over 2,500 volunteers were at Friends of the Chicago River's 24th annual Chicago River Day. Families, corporate teams, and community groups worked together at over 60 locations to pick up garbage (which is unsightly and harmful to wildlife), remove invasive plants, and spruce up river-edge trails.

"Mayor Rahm Emanuel's announcement of Current, a new public and private partnership developed to solve water challenges facing the nation and the globe, could lead to a healthier Chicago River system," said Friends' Executive Director Margaret Frisbie. "Ideally their work will address the local challenges the river still faces and will create new technologies for such as end of pipe sewage treatment, increased nutrient removal and recovery, and easy to install sewage effluent disinfection at Stickney."

In other excellent river news on Wednesday morning, John Quail, director of watershed planning, and Anthony, Cefali, policy and planning specialist, joined Cook County Board President Tony Preckwinkle when she introduced a new resolution in favor of Overflow Action Days, Friends’ new program designed to build program awareness of how we can reduce river pollution and flooding by taking action at home.

The river and Friends featured prominently in Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's announcement for new investments to improve Chicago's Parks. The mayor thanked Friends for our tireless advocacy for the river and the Chicago Riverwalk. Part of the Parks "Building on Burnham" plan includes the addition of river access at almost every mile from the North Side south to Little Village.

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the ribbons will be cut and the switch thrown on to begin the process of sewage effluent disinfection at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's (MWRD) O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant located on the North Shore Channel. Friends of the Chicago River and many partners worked tirelessly for more than a decade to reach this day which will have a dramatic impact on ambient water quality.

It is overwhelming to see this major benchmark in water quality improvements come to pass. It is the direct result of Friends’ advocacy and demonstrates it take a sustained effort to get things done.