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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION TO ADVANCE CHICAGO AREA WATERWAY SYSTEM ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
WHEREAS, The Chicago Waterway System (CAWS) comprises approximately 76.1 miles of canals and modified natural rivers, which encompasses a diverse landscape of prairies, woodlands, savannas, and wetlands as well as industrial, residential, and commercial developments; and
WHEREAS, the CAWS is home to a variety of wildlife, including larger animals such as coyotes and deer, as well as small aquatic plants like duckweed, which is considered one the smallest flowering plants in the world; and
WHEREAS, the CAWS is one of the most closely monitored urban river systems in the United States, with a special thanks to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD); and
WHEREAS, since 1974, monitored fish populations in the CAWS have shown substantial increases in species diversity, from 10 species in 1974 to 77 species in 2026, reflecting significant improvements in water quality and aquatic habitat; and
WHEREAS, despite the collaborative research efforts with partner organizations and an increase in native fish abundance and species diversity, the historic contamination from Chicago's industrialization has affected sediment in certain areas of the CAWS, in locations such as south fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River, commonly known as Bubbly Creek; and
WHEREAS, sediment provides essential habitat and nutrients for benthic organisms, which serve as a foundational food source for fish: these fish, in turn, support wildlife and human populations throughout Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the residents of Cook County, affirm our support for federal, state, and municipal initiatives aimed at addressing legacy pollution, including the remediation of contaminated sediments within the CAWS; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Reco...
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