Environmental Impacts of the Chicago River reversal

Since my work focuses on water, I always want to inspire others to do the same. By the end of this post, you'll know the history and environmental impacts of the Chicago River reversal.

Chicago was the fastest-growing city in the world in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. But as the city grew, Lake Michigan became increasingly polluted. The city's wastewater flowed along the Chicago River into Lake Michigan. Since Lake Michigan provided the city with clean drinking water, many Chicagoans suffered from typhoid, cholera, and other waterborne illnesses. Many people thought about the solutions. Engineer Sylvester Chesbrough put forward a bold suggestion. He suggested Chicago reverse the direction of its river away from the lake and toward the Mississippi River. After several years, a great ditch was built. The new canal sent Chicago's wastewater down the Mississippi River to the Gulf. Even though the final decision was tied up in court, Chicago went ahead anyway. This engineering feat is celebrated as a pivotal moment in Chicago's history, highlighting innovative problem-solving during a critical time. Video here:https://lnkd.in/gXeEChTc

As a result of the reversal, Lake Michigan was free from pollution, and thousands of people were prevented from dying from many waterborne illnesses. The Chicago River Reversal has been celebrated as not only an inspired solution to a vexing problem, but an engineering marvel. However, the reversal was hardly a perfect solution. In the years and decades that followed, many negative environmental effects emerged.

1) The first negative effect was floods. The influx of water from Lake Michigan nearly doubled the size of the Illinois River. The water caused frequent flooding of farmland downstream.

2) The second concern is about invasive species. The Chicago River reversal connected two of the world's largest freshwater ecosystems – the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The connection opened a new pathway for invasive species. One of the famous invasive species is Asian carp. Asian carp ate other plants and fish on the Mississippi River. The fish not only undermine the river's ecology, but also cause huge economic damage by undermining the native fishery.

3) The third environmental impact is still about pollution. Although Lake Michigan was protected, many communities downstream have argued that the pollution is shifting to them. Some people said that the reversal has caused pollution in areas as far as the Gulf of Mexico.

Today, as Chicago continues to improve its underground sewage treatment system, the downstream environmental impacts of the river reversal are decreasing. However, water pollution remains a concern, and ongoing attention is necessary to address residual environmental challenges and protect water quality.

Have you been on the Chicago River? What environmental impacts have you seen at rivers near you?