Have You Seen a River Otter?; Equitable Green Infrastructure Investments; Community Groups Impact Chicago River Day; The Hooded Merganser; Happy Valentine's Day!
Have You Seen a River Otter?
Researchers Want to Know
After nearly a century’s absence, the iconic river otter is making a comeback in the Chicago area and researchers are examining how they’re adjusting to urban living, and what more can be done to support their return.
The Urban River Otter Research Project – working closely with our partners at the Forest Preserves of Cook County – is evaluating how river otters are adapting to increased urbanization. You can help the otter project gather vital data by sending them information about any otter sightings you spot. They offer an easy-to-use online form. And, be sure to share any otter photos/video (of any Chicago-Calumet river wildlife) with us at wildlife@chicagoriver.org.
The North American river otter (Lontra Canadensis) is the ambassador species of Friends of the Chicago River. The otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living, both on the land and in the water, and is a highly social and playful creature that is very sensitive to environmental pollution.
“Because they need clean water and healthy fish and mussel populations, river otters are a good indicator species by which we can measure our progress over the last 40+ years,” said Friends’ Executive Director Margaret Frisbie who spoke this week with a researcher from the Urban River Otter Research Project. “As a result, spotting an otter is thrilling scientifically speaking and, frankly, it is also plain old fun.”
The otter project is closely affiliated with the Urban Coyote Research Project. Additional partners for the otter project include The Ohio State University, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control, Brookfield Zoo, the University of Illinois, and the USDA.
You can follow the Urban River Otter Research Project on Facebook and Twitter. More information about all our wildlife habitat projects is available on our website.
Natural Solutions Tool Will Help Drive Equitable Green Infrastructure Investments
Communities throughout the Chicago-Calumet watershed face challenges due to the climate crisis which require infrastructure agencies to work together to find solutions.
The Chicago-Calumet River Watershed Council is creating a data-driven Natural Solutions Tool to better understand ideal places for nature-based green infrastructure projects which take into consideration the need for equity and environmental justice. The main goal is to achieve social, environmental, and economic benefits using natural climate solutions in areas with the greatest need.
This month, the Watershed Council is hosting two virtual community partner meetings to help people learn more about the Natural Solutions Tool, ask questions, and provide input.
- February 18, 10:00-11 a.m. Register to receive meeting link here.
- February 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Register to receive meeting link here.
By combining sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis and on-the-ground input with community priorities, the Natural Solutions Tool will help communities and policy makers across the watershed integrate strategic equity and environmental considerations into the scopes of future projects to maximize their benefits for communities and the environment.
The Natural Solutions Tool will allow users to locate parcels that meet their desired characteristics and where green infrastructure is most suitable, as well as to compare climate, public health, and equity information to find ways to address complex environmental challenges and improve ecological health. The tool will be published on a user-friendly website for use by the public, community advocates, and decision makers. The tool creation process is a project of the Watershed Council and is being administered by Friends of the Chicago River in partnership with The Trust for Public Land.
Initiated in 2020 by Friends of the Chicago River, the 16-member Watershed Council’s approach is to maximize multiple ecological, social, and climate resiliency objectives across jurisdictional boundaries.
If you have questions please contact Friends’ Planning Director Adam Flickinger aflickinger@chicagoriver.org.
Photo: Arrowhead Lake near Palos Heights, Ill.
Community Organizations Make a Big Impact
on Chicago River Day
As the 30th Annual Chicago River approaches on May 14, Friends’ is busy collaborating with community groups across the watershed to establish locations and volunteer site captains from Lake County to southern Cook County.
For over 25 years, the Village of Glenview has hosted Chicago River Day at the Techny Basin, a scenic wetlands area adjacent to the West Fork of the North Branch. Last year, Friends of Downtown Glenview (FDG) identified the need for a new Chicago River Day site along a pedestrian path adjacent to the West Fork of the North Branch that runs through heart of downtown Glenview.
The organization coordinated with the Village for permission and logistics (the Village’s Natural Resources Manager, Robyn Flakne, was the site captain) and brought out a team of volunteers who removed numerous bags of litter from the site. For their leadership, vision, and collaboration, Friends of Downtown Glenview recently received an Environmental Sustainability Award sponsored by the Village of Glenview’s Natural Resources Commission.
“We truly appreciate the Village for supporting Chicago River Day through so many years and working with interested local groups like Friends of Downtown Glenview to expand its impact,” said Friends’ Volunteer and Event Coordinator Annette Anderson. “These kinds of partnerships are central to strengthening our community connection and stewardship of the river by sharing expertise, resources, and communications.”
When established community groups organize cleanups, Friends supports their efforts by training volunteer leaders and providing supplies, which empowers them to keep planning cleanups year round. This expands the reach of Chicago River Day throughout the watershed.
“The West Fork of the river is an important and unique natural feature in our Friends of Downtown Glenview efforts to revitalize our traditional Glenview downtown, and Friends of the Chicago River has been a great resource for our FDG project coordinator, Melissa Dahlquist, who is continually working with local participants to enhance appreciation of the river,” said John Hedrick, president of Friends of Downtown Glenview.
If you or your organization is interested in hosting a Chicago River Day site, or serving as a site captain, please download our Site Captains Guidelines and fill out a short form.
(Left to right) Friends of Downtown Glenview volunteers Megan McClung, Shawn Eshoo, and Melissa Dahlquist were part of the team who picked up litter along the West Fork of the North Branch on Chicago River Day 2021.
Winter Wildlife: The Hooded Merganser
During this chilly season there are many winter birds and other wildlife to spot in and along the Chicago River system. A bird species that is a measure of the increasing health of the river system (profiled in the winter edition of the River Reporter ) is the hooded merganser, a small species of duck that frequents our area in winter.
Hooded mergansers are native and common throughout southern Canada and the northern United States. Like many ducks, the male is brightly colored for courtship, while the female is more camouflaged. They are not long-distance migrators and will spend the winter anywhere where winter temperatures allow for ice-free conditions. The climate crisis is causing a shift in their range. At the current rate of temperature increase, both their summer and winter habitat would move several hundred miles northward over the next 30 years.
Mergansers are our only ducks that specialize in eating fish and will seek out good habitat; unpolluted open water alongside a shore covered with emergent aquatic vegetation. The merganser forages by diving underwater or searching among the vegetation and can remain submerged for up to two minutes. Here’s a short video of a hooded merganser eating a fish.
If you spot a hooded merganser, or any winter wildlife, please share photos or video with us at wildlife@chicagoriver.org.
For Valentine’s Day – Adopt a Catfish, Osprey, or Painted Turtle
Looking for a special Valentine’s Day present? Symbolically adopt an osprey, bat, or painted turtle. In doing so, you will support Friends’ wildlife habitat projects and advocate for clean water and healthy habitat which improves the river system for the almost 80 species of fish, countless species of birds, beavers, muskrats, turtles, and the occasional river otter that call it home. Several different adoption package levels are available. More information about all our wildlife habitat projects is available on our website.
Experience the River System as a Canoe Guide
Volunteer canoe guides play pivotal roles in helping people experience the river system in safe, fun, and educational ways while being part of committed group with esprit de corps. Have a car hitch? We also need volunteer boat haulers. The 2022 canoe season starts on Chicago River Day, May 14 and runs through October with an average of 40 trips throughout the river system. Guides are asked to commit to three or more paddles per season. Let us know your interest in guiding or hauling by downloading our canoe guide application and returning it to Annette Anderson, at aanderson@chicagoriver.org.
Host Your Special Event at the Bridgehouse Museum
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum offers one of the most unique and memorable locations for special events in Chicago. Start planning now to host a special event at the Bridgehouse Museum which opens to the public for the 2022 season on Chicago River Day May 14. Located in the southwest bridgehouse of the historic DuSable Bridge on Michigan Avenue, the museum tells the story of how the Chicago River system changed as people's use of it changed and provides access to the inner-workings of one of Chicago’s most famous moveable bridges. For additional information or to schedule a venue tour, contact Coles at jcoles@chicagoriver.org or fill out an online request here.
Grants Available to Support Black-Serving Organizations Doing Environmental Work
The Aya Initiative of the Prince Charitable Trust is accepting grant applications through February 28 for Black-led and Black-serving organizations that are actively engaging Chicago neighborhoods and people around nature and the environment. You can find complete eligibility and application details in The Aya Initiative Request for Proposals. To apply, please complete and submit your application through eGrants, Prince Charitable Trusts online grants management system. Please email aya@princetrusts.org for more details.
Help the Urban Forestry Advisory Board Get Going
It's time for the Chicago City Council to follow through on their passage of the Urban Forestry Advisory Board in June and appoint members to the Board. Our partner at Openlands provides an easy-to-use use online form to contact your Alderperson and Mayor Lori Lightfoot to request their action on appointments to this important board. The recent 2020 Tree Census by The Morton Arboretum reported that Chicago’s tree canopy is now at 16% - one of the lowest of any major US city.
Urge EPA to Restore Protections for Streams and Wetlands
Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972 with the objective “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” Determining what waters are covered by the Clean Water Act has been a fraught process. The Trump Administration efforts to narrow the scope of the Act wiped out federal protections for many streams and wetlands putting safe clean drinking water at risk. Our partner at the Environmental Law & Policy Center offers on online petition urging the EPA to act swiftly to restore protections for streams and wetlands and to propose a comprehensive science-based standard that will deliver on the original promise of the Clean Water Act. Sign the petition here.
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