Project Description and Background
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working with local partners on a major project called the Chicago Area Waterways System Restoration and Recreation (CAWSRR) Study. Our goal is to improve aquatic habitat within the Chicago and Calumet rivers and increase public access and recreation opportunities along these river corridors. The CAWSRR Study builds upon decades of work by community, local, county, state, and federal partners that have significantly improved river conditions. However, aquatic habitat is still limited along these river corridors and restoration is necessary to sustain healthy aquatic communities.
The channels of the Chicago and Calumet rivers have been widened, deepened, straightened, moved, and reversed (see figures). What were once meandering rivers, surrounded by wetlands and prairie are now industrialized water highways surrounded by roads, towers, and factories. USACE played a major role in modifying the Chicago Area Waterway System, including major channel dredging, widening, and straightening projects to facilitate inland navigation. While these modifications were instrumental in Chicago and the nation’s development, it also meant loss of much of the habitat that that supported fish, birds, amphibians, and other aquatic organisms.
The CAWSRR Study covers the entire Chicago and Calumet river systems within the City of Chicago. Working with local, county and state partners, we prioritized river segments for restoration efforts and screened the 82 potential restoration and recreation sites identified in the 2023 Chicago Waterways Framework Plan down to six opportunity zones for further study based on factors like feasibility, risk, local priorities, and potential improvement from existing conditions.
Federal Interest Determination Report
The CAWSRR Study Federal Interest Determination (FID) Report identified multiple potential projects to be further evaluated through follow-on phased feasibility studies. We identified opportunities across several areas, including:
- North Branch of the Chicago River: This project would involve restoring the North Branch Chicago River, its floodplain, emergent wetlands, and meadows on Forest Preserve District of Cook County property (LaBagh Woods, Edgebrook Golf Course, Miami Woods) on the north side of Chicago.
- North Branch Canal and Turning Basin: This project would create emergent wetlands in the North Branch Canal and North Avenue Turning Basin, two man-made features of the Chicago River system originally constructed for navigation purposes, but are now underutilized. Naturalizing these areas of the North Branch Chicago River was first envisioned in the North Branch Framework and the Wild Mile Framework Vision. Urban Rivers in partnership with the City of Chicago has implemented 700 feet of floating gardens in the North Branch Canal as part of the Wild Mile plan.
- South Branch Chicago River: This project would create off-channel aquatic habitat such as emergent wetlands and submerged structure in underutilized slips on the South Branch of the Chicago River. The McKinley Park Development Council and the City of Chicago have recently conducted or initiated planning studies.
- Calumet River: This project would restore hemi-marsh, emergent wetlands, and aquatic habitat in Deadstick Pond, Heron Pond, and the Calumet River.
- Lake Calumet: This project would restore hemi-marsh, emergent wetlands, and aquatic habitat in Lake Calumet and Square Marsh. The Illinois International Port District recently completed an update to the Master Plan for Lake Calumet, which included marsh and wetland restoration and recreation opportunities in Lake Calumet.
- Little Calumet River: This project would restore emergent wetlands, riverine habitat, and the banks of the Little Calumet River at Beaubien Woods Nature Preserve.
Project Authorization and Funding
The CAWSRR Study was authorized by Congress, in Section 201 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020. Funding to complete the Federal Interest Determination Report was provided by the 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. Follow-on feasibility studies will require federal funding and one or more non-federal partners willing to share study costs.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District Public Affairs Office.
Phone: 312-846-5330
Email: chicagodistrict.pao@usace.army.mil
Mail: 231 S. LaSalle St. Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604