Friends has been working on plans that prevent the spread of Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species. Much ado has been made about eDNA for monitoring their presence in the Chicago River, and now studies show that we should focus our efforts down stream.

Statements in recent news stories call the Chicago River an open sewer and create a specter of raw sewage pouring into Lake Michigan if the river reverses. The fact is that statement is patently untrue.

After spending more than $13 million fighting efforts to clean up the Chicago River, the agency that handles Cook County's sewage and stormwater on Tuesday officially dropped its opposition.

On an 8-1 vote, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's elected board endorsed a new policy that backs more stringent water quality standards.

The Chicago Tribune story here.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board today took the first step toward designating stretches of the Chicago River, Cal-Sag Channel and Little Calumet River safe for “primary contact,” a legal term that includes activities such as kayaking, canoeing, boating, wading and swimming.

Read about the anouncement here