GLIN==> River Renaissance: New NRDC Report Details Separation to Keep Carp Out of Great Lakes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Josh Mogerman, 312-651-7909 (office) - 773-531-5359 (Mobile)

 

River Renaissance: New Report Details Separation to Keep Carp Out of
Great Lakes

 

Engineering Study Re-Envisions Chicago River Solves Two Problems with
One Solution 

 

CHICAGO (October 20, 2010) - Building two strategically-placed barriers
between the Great Lakes and Chicago River could open the door to a
revitalized waterway and surrounding communities,  while effectively
shutting the door on Asian carp, according to a new report by the
Natural Resources Defense Council. This new report investigates a
variety of hydrological separation scenarios in order to determine the
best way to fix both the Asian Carp crisis and the litany of issues
associated with Chicago's aging water infrastructure through one smart
solution. 

 

"The Carp crisis illuminates how unacceptable conditions are on the
Chicago River," said NRDC Midwest Program Director Henry Henderson, who
also served as the City of Chicago's first Commissioner of the
Environment. "It is clear that the public is ready to re-imagine the
waterway rather than accept an aging invasive species superhighway and
open sewer status quo. We believe this report moves that process
forward."

 

"Re-Envisioning the Chicago River: Adopting Comprehensive Regional
Solutions to the Invasive Species Crisis" studies the impact a
separation would have in the complicated Chicago Area Waterway System
(CAWS).  It builds upon previous studies of potential separation sites
in the CAWS and draws from a variety of city, state and federal data
sources. The study was prepared with engineers from Shaw Environmental
in partnership with NRDC with input from City, State, and federal agency
stakeholders. It is presented as the first big step in an iterative
process to find a solution to the invasive species and Chicago River
issues and is meant to inform the broader public discourse.

 

In analyzing the local hydrology, the Shaw engineers determined that any
rainfall over 0.67 inches would cause flooding and water quality
problems due to infrastructure limitations. Shaw then evaluated possible
separation sites based on their potential to rebuff invasive species as
well as minimize storm impacts, focus investment in water quality
improvements, leave recreational boat traffic largely unaffected, and
spur the use of green infrastructure to help address the sewer capacity
issues while bringing significant aesthetic and functional benefits to
neighborhoods. Green infrastructure is the use of natural systems, such
as wetlands, street trees, and other types of vegetation to store and
treat stormwater instead of the "hard infrastructure" that is
traditionally used, such as pipes, pumps, and storage tunnels.  Shaw's
green infrastructure modeling showed that planting trees, bioswales and
installing rain gardens or rain barrels could lead to substantial
reduction in stormwater loads to the CAWS.

 

The report recommends barriers be placed at the Racine Pumping station
on Bubbly Creek near the Bridgeport neighborhood and at the Calumet
Wastewater Treatment Facility on the Cal-Sag Channel on the City's far
southeast side.

 

The report notes that separation would likely spur other positive
outcomes, including fewer flooded basements and a cleaner river. NRDC
believes it would also spur significant infrastructure investment.
Coincidentally, this week, the Illinois Pollution Control Board is
holding the final hearings in their historically-long proceedings on the
decontamination of the Chicago River which could also force significant
changes to the way the wastewater that makes up most of the river's flow
is managed.

 

"The reversal of the Chicago River was important a century ago, but
technology and attitudes have evolved over the last 100 years," said
Henderson. "Unfortunately, our methods and means of treating our storm
and wastewater have not. You wouldn't build a road and then leave it
sitting for 100 years without upgrading it. It's time for a river
renovation."

  

The 70+ page technical document has been summarized into a six-page
briefing, which is available at
http://www.nrdc.org/water/Chicagoriver/Chicagoriver.asp

 

One significant concern raised in the report is the potential impact
that the barrier placement could have on navigation. Recreational boats
will be largely unaffected by the barrier locations. Subsequent studies
will have to look more closely at the movement of goods on the CAWS as
the barrier in the Cal-Sag channel could limit some barge traffic.
However, the report notes that this could lead to the development of a
new intermodal facility that would better tie the waterways to the
region's rich transportation infrastructure. Only 1% of goods moving
through the Chicago area move through the CAWS. Better integration with
roads and rails could actually spur commerce on the river.

 

###

 

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit
organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists
dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in
1970, NRDC has 1.3 million members and online activists, served from
offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Beijing. More information on NRDC is available at its Web site:
www.nrdc.org <http://www.nrdc.org/> .

 

______________________________________

Thomas Cmar

Natural Resources Defense Council

2 N. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2250

Chicago, IL 60606

(312) 651-7906

tcmar at nrdc.org

 

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