Chicago River Summit: Linking Watersheds

Join us for the 20th Anniversary of the Chicago River Summit!

October 24, 2024

11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

SOLD OUT

We are excited to host the Chicago River Summit: Linking Watersheds in partnership with the Chicago Wilderness Alliance. This event celebrates the intersections of watershed planning, climate justice, environmental health, and nature. Just as ecosystem health is strengthened with biodiversity, a wide-spanning diversity of voices is necessary to create a resilient Chicago-Calumet River watershed. With jurisdictional and watershed boundaries rarely aligning, coordination is imperative to effectively address shared challenges.

Celebrate our 20th anniversary of the Chicago River Summit! Since 2004, Friends of the Chicago River has hosted the Chicago River Summit to create a platform for leaders to come together to tackle complex issues threatening the river system and explore the intersections of human and environmental health. In 2004, Friends and Chicago Wilderness came together for a Linking Watersheds conference, serving as a pivotal gathering to unite various watershed groups from across the region.

Two decades later, new challenges have emerged, but the need for coordination across sectors and jurisdictional boundaries remains. We are excited to once again partner with Chicago Wilderness and revisit the Linking Watersheds theme in 2024 to highlight the importance of regional coordination and innovative partnerships. As we collectively confront the challenges of climate change and legacy pollution, part of our shared mission is to break down silos between air, water, land, and wildlife conservation and to re-learn that we are all one connected environment. 

Through Linking Watersheds, we aim to serve as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, coordination, and the development of comprehensive strategies to tackle pressing issues collectively.

Details:

• Time: Check-in begins at 11:30 AM, with programming from 12:15 PM to 4:30 PM, followed by an optional networking happy hour at 4:30 PM.

• Location: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, South Gallery, 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614

• Getting There: We encourage carpooling and public transit. The museum is accessible via CTA bus routes #76, #151, and #156, and is a 20-minute walk from the Diversey station on the Brown, Purple, or Red Line. Free street parking is available on Cannon and Stockton Drives, and there’s a flat-rate lot at 2431 N. Cannon Drive.

• Accessibility: The South Gallery is on the second floor of the museum, accessible by stairs or elevator. All restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Agenda:

	Agenda Item	Details
11:30 AM -12:15 PM	Check-in and Grab Lunch	A light lunch will be served. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions in advance.
12:15 PM-12:45 PM	Opening Remarks	Master of Ceremony: Adam Flickinger, Friends of the Chicago River. Presenters: Margaret Frisbie, Friends of the Chicago River; Ted Haffner, Chicago Wilderness Alliance; Zack Ater, Nature Museum.
12:45 PM-1:30 PM	A Tribal Perspective of Water Resources and Pokagon Band Kowabdanawa odë ke (They watch over this land) Activities on the Dowagiac River	Presenters: Staff of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Grant Poole, Water Quality Specialist, and Andrea Jackson, Cultural Specialist for Victim Services. Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. Discussing the tribe’s engagement in stewardship of the Dowagiac River using indigenous knowledge and nature-based solutions.
1:30 PM- 2:15 PM	Green Infrastructure for Resilient Cities: Collaboration, Innovation, and Lessons Learned at NYC Parks	Presenter: Jenny Sunday, Green Infrastructure Program Manager at NYC Parks. Transferable lessons on inter-agency coordination, community engagement, and policy frameworks for stormwater management in NYC's park system.
2:15 PM- 3:15 PM	Connecting the Drops: Insights from Chicago-Region Watershed Managers	Moderator: John Quail, Friends of the Chicago River. Panelists: Danielle Gallet (Waterwell), Holly Hudson (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning), Jennifer Hammer (The Conservation Foundation), Kurt Woolford (Lake County Stormwater Management Commission). Roundtable on the successes and challenges of regional watershed partnerships and ensuring sustained investments.
3:15 PM- 3:30 PM	Snack Break
3:30 PM- 4:00 PM	Think Global, Act Local: Collaboration During Climate Crisis	Presenter: Kelli Paige, Former NOAA Lead at U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System. Exploring inclusive partnerships in watershed management and federal agency roles in supporting local partners for climate justice.
4:00 PM- 4:30 PM	A Watershed Moment Possibility Panel	Moderator: Adam Flickinger. Panelists: Kelli Paige, Jenny Sunday, Andrea Jackson, Danielle Gallet, and Margaret Frisbie. Visioning for the future of collaboration and innovation in watershed planning for equity and resilience.
4:30 PM- 5:30 PM	Networking Happy Hour	Join us for refreshments and conversations to wrap up the day.

 

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

 

     

    

 

Organizational partners: