Kiera Jefferson
The Chicago River has been a source of pollution for many years, with human and industrial waste contaminating the water and causing frequent cholera epidemics in the 19th and 20th centuries. This has had a significant impact on the animals that call the river home, including fish, birds, and amphibians. The river's pollution has also affected the underwater plants that create habitats for these animals, as well as the flora that pollinators depend on. In recent years, efforts have been made to improve the water quality and restore the river's ecosystem, with a focus on reducing sewage-related contaminants and improving wastewater treatment. As a result, the number of fish species in the river has increased, and animals such as otters, beavers, and birds have started to return to the area. However, the river still faces challenges, including the threat of invasive species and the impact of agricultural runoff on the Gulf of Mexico.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Animals affected by Chicago's polluted river | Fish, amphibians, otters, birds, bats, beavers, mink, muskrats, snapping turtles, insects, coyotes, black-crowned night heron |
| Causes of pollution | Industrial and human waste, sewage, stormwater, runoff, chloride, phosphorus |
| Effects of pollution | Algal blooms, loss of underwater plants and habitats for fish, contaminated drinking water, cholera epidemics, floods, invasive species, loss of oxygen in the water |
| Efforts to improve water quality | Clean Water Act, improvements to sewage systems, floating wetland projects, installation of bat maternity colonies |
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What You'll Learn
The Clean Water Act and its impact
The Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed by the US Congress in 1972 to establish a nationwide approach to improving the quality of the country's water bodies, including lakes, rivers, streams, and others. The Act made it illegal to discharge pollutants into navigable waters without a permit. This marked a significant reorganization and expansion of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which was enacted in 1948.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with states, tribes, and territories, is responsible for monitoring the quality of these water bodies under the CWA. The EPA has implemented pollution control programs and set wastewater standards for industries, developing national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters. The Act has also funded 35,000 wastewater projects totaling $650 billion, benefiting water quality across the country.
The impact of the Clean Water Act has been significant. It has transformed rivers and bays that were once filled with raw sewage and industrial waste into recreational spots with diverse wildlife. In the case of the Chicago River, which was once a toxic wasteland, the number of fish species recorded leapt from 10 to 77 due to dramatic decreases in sewage-related contaminants. The river now supports a wide range of wildlife, including beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles, insects, bats, and fish.
However, despite these successes, threats to water safety remain. In 2023, the US Supreme Court removed protections for up to two-thirds of wetlands and millions of miles of streams, which will harm water quality and wildlife over time. The discovery of widespread pollution by persistent chemicals called PFAS has also raised concerns about risks to human health and the environment. Additionally, limited monitoring of water bodies makes it challenging to detect and address harmful substances, such as algal blooms, which can impact aquatic life and human health.
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Sewage and stormwater drainage
Chicago has a combined sewer system, where both sewage and stormwater drain into the same pipes. This means that during heavy rainfall, the pipes can become overwhelmed, resulting in untreated sewage being dumped into the Chicago and Calumet River systems and, in cases of extremely heavy rain, back into Lake Michigan. This has historically led to the river becoming heavily polluted, with the stench making people sick and contaminating the city's drinking water, causing frequent cholera epidemics throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Clean Water Act of 1972 made it illegal to dump pollutants into navigable waters without a permit, which boosted the health of the river. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has also built over 17 billion gallons of stormwater capacity across its Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). TARP prevents the release of raw sewage into the river by holding stormwater in reservoirs until it can be treated.
The Chicago Department of Water Management is working to increase the capacity of the drainage systems to handle the more intense storms that are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Homeowners are also encouraged to take steps to prevent water from backing up into their basements, such as disconnecting downspout connections from the sewer system and directing flow to permeable surfaces that can absorb stormwater.
The river's health has improved, and it now supports a diverse range of wildlife, including beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles, fish, otters, and various bird species. However, it is important to continue efforts to protect and improve the waterway, as the river still faces threats from pollution and sewage overflows.
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Impact on birds and bats
The Chicago River has been heavily polluted due to a combination of factors, including industrial waste, sewage, stormwater runoff, and climate change. This pollution has had a significant impact on the wildlife that lives in and around the river, including birds and bats.
Impact on birds
Birds are good indicators of the health of the river ecosystem. The diversity and abundance of bird species in the area depend on the availability of food sources, such as fish. As the river's health improves, the number of fish species has increased, positively impacting the bird population. Today, various bird species are often spotted along the Chicago River, including ducks, geese, red-winged blackbirds, great blue herons, little green herons, ospreys, and kingfishers. The black-crowned night heron, an endangered species, has also established a thriving colony near the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The improved water quality has also contributed to the return of other wildlife, such as otters, and the presence of a diverse range of birds indicates a healthier river ecosystem.
Impact on bats
Bats are another group of animals that have been affected by the pollution in the Chicago River. There are 12 species of bats native to Illinois, and most of them live along the Chicago Riverway. Bats are highly water-dependent, relying on the river for food, water, and shelter. The pollution in the river has likely impacted their habitat and food sources.
Friends of the Chicago River, an organization dedicated to improving the health of the river, has recognized the importance of bats and has taken steps to preserve their habitats. They have installed "bat maternity colonies," which are boxes placed atop stilts, to provide safe spaces for bats to roost and reproduce. These efforts are crucial in mitigating the impacts of habitat loss, pesticide use, and white-nose syndrome, which have all taken a toll on bat populations in the area.
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Beavers, mink and muskrats
Beavers are considered nature's engineers, and they build dams across streams to create ponds. These lodges within the dams can only be accessed through underwater entrances, keeping the beavers safe from predators like bears and wolves. Beavers are a keystone species, and they have a significant impact on streams, the movement of water, water quality, and the other animals that live there.
While beaver dams can positively impact the environment, their effects on water quality can vary depending on environmental conditions such as temperature, sunlight, water velocity, and depth. On a larger scale, beaver dams can slow water flow and increase sedimentation, causing pollutants to settle out of the water into sediments upstream of the dam. These areas can become zones of high pollutant concentration, potentially harming wildlife.
Mink and muskrats are two animal species that have been affected by water pollution in rivers, including the Chicago River. The survival of mink that burrow and hunt along rivers is threatened by industrial waste discharged into the watershed. Chemical waste contaminates the fish and other aquatic life that mink depend on for food, exposing them to pollutants like mercury and other heavy metals.
Similarly, muskrats, which are semi-aquatic mammals, rely on healthy river ecosystems for their habitat and food sources. They are sensitive to water quality and can be affected by pollutants in the water, such as those historically found in the Chicago River.
The Chicago River has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, moving from a heavily polluted state to a much cleaner and ecologically diverse waterway. This change is due to a combination of federal regulations, improvements to the city's sewage system, and initiatives by local nonprofits and aquariums. As a result, the river now supports a wider range of wildlife, including fish species and a giant snapping turtle.
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Otters and other aquatic mammals
Otters are one of the most notable species that have been affected by Chicago's polluted river. Once abundant throughout Illinois, including Chicago, river otters experienced a dramatic decline in the mid-19th century due to habitat loss, hunting, and pollution. In the late 1980s, there were only about 100 otters left in the entire state.
However, due to conservation efforts and improvements in water quality, otters have made a remarkable comeback in Chicago's waterways. The Clean Water Act of 1972 played a crucial role in boosting the health of the Chicago River by making it illegal to dump pollutants into navigable waters without a permit. This led to a decrease in sewage-related contaminants and an increase in the number of fish species, providing a more suitable habitat for otters and other aquatic mammals.
Today, otters are a common sight along the Chicago River, even in bustling areas like downtown. Their return is a promising sign that the region's ecosystems are recovering and providing safer spaces for wildlife. The river otters' resurgence is a testament to the successful conservation efforts and improved water quality in the area.
Other aquatic mammals have also been affected by Chicago's polluted river. Beavers, for example, nearly became extinct in Illinois due to aggressive trapping in the 19th century. However, through reintroduction efforts and improved water quality, they have rebounded and are now commonly spotted along the river. Muskrats and snapping turtles are also part of the diverse range of wildlife that has benefited from the river's transformation.
The Chicago River has gone from being a toxic wasteland to an urban oasis, and this positive change has had a significant impact on the aquatic mammals that call it home. The ongoing conservation projects and the dedication of various organizations continue to play a crucial role in the recovery and thriving presence of these mammals in the area.
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Frequently asked questions
All animals in the river and riparian zone were affected by the pollution in Chicago's river. This included beavers, mink, muskrats, otters, bats, birds, fish, and insects.
The pollution in the river decreased the number of fish species from 10 to 5 in the 1970s. It also led to frequent cholera epidemics in the 19th and 20th centuries and caused floods downstream. The excess nutrients in the waste created algal blooms, which used up oxygen in the water, making it difficult for creatures to survive.
Yes, the number of fish species has increased from 10 to 77 due to dramatic decreases in sewage-related contaminants. The river's cleaner turn has also led to visits from "Chonkosaurus," a giant snapping turtle and a global social media sensation.
The pollution was caused by industrial and human waste, sewage, stormwater, and agricultural runoff. In the 19th century, slaughterhouses in the Union Stock Yards dumped animal waste, blood, and offal into the river.
