Chicago River Restoration Continues near Bubbly Creek by Shedd Aquarium and Urban Rivers

Shedd Aquarium and Urban Rivers are continuing to expand the habitat for the South Branch of the Chicago River by building, planting, and installing 40 structures, which will create approximately 1,460 square feet of floating wetlands. Featuring an array of native plant species, these floating wetlands provide critical habitat, shelter and food to local wildlife, further strengthening a surprising biodiversity hotspot. The latest additions join an existing 3,000-square-foot habitat with lush plants that the nonprofits and volunteers from the surrounding community previously added to the area.

“By adding more natural greenery to the Chicago River, we aim to restore and preserve this vital resource for both people and wildlife,” said Maggie Cooper, manager of conservation action at Shedd Aquarium. “Our role as a connector to the aquatic world is not bound to our four walls at the aquarium; we are creating that same spark for the second shoreline by connecting people, fostering compassion and furthering conservation for this waterway.”

These artificial floating wetlands are still an emerging ecological engineering technology; yet, initial research has shown some preliminary benefits for urban waterways that are void of vegetation but serve as a valuable freshwater ecosystem. By adding pockets of native wetland plants, the habitat structures can be utilized by a wide range of species, providing refuge for fish, forage grounds for birds, a food source for larval insects and more. Shedd Aquarium continues to study the impacts of these floating wetland habitats and conduct additional research to understand these urban freshwater systems.

Further, this restoration effort continues to make this stretch of the river more inviting and healthier for recreational activities, connecting Chicagoans to this freshwater resource and fostering a community dedicated to its protection. Throughout the summer at Park No. 571, Shedd Aquarium offers Friday Community Nights with free equipment and permits for catch-and-release fishing lessons to explore the aquatic life that calls the area home. During these events, Urban Rivers provides paddle offerings for nearby residents to gain greater access to the floating wetlands. With these engagement efforts, the partner organizations are fostering a community of stewardship-minded residents invested in improving the health of the river.

“The river has come a long way and so has our project that began and continues to progress for the Wild Mile and expands to return habitat to more areas along the armored river,” said Nick Wesley, executive director and co-founder at Urban Rivers. “It means a great deal to us to broaden the impact of our efforts, especially in areas that have historically needed it most, like Bubbly Creek, and we’re grateful to Shedd Aquarium for their continued partnership in this work.”

Beyond the restoration of the river, Shedd Aquarium is working alongside partners and community members to reimagine a better future for this stretch of the waterway. This is a continued commitment to expand access for Chicagoans to the Chicago River with learning and recreational opportunities, support biodiversity and river health, and collect data to monitor the wildlife populations and habitat quality for continued conservation improvements.

BACKGROUND: In collaboration with many partners, Shedd Aquarium works to reimagine, research and rewild the South Branch of the Chicago River. This stretch of the river flows southwest from downtown through neighborhoods including Chinatown, Pilsen, Bridgeport and McKinley Park.

The South Branch of the Chicago River has historically been developed to serve the needs of industry, transportation and private interests. As a result, diverse habitat types that are crucial for the health and stability of river ecosystems are limited. Despite this, Shedd, Urban Rivers and other environmental organizations have identified that there is great ecological potential in the area. Preliminary research shows an impressive variety of aquatic life, and Shedd’s team sees the area as a biodiversity hotspot that can be further strengthened.

Many residents and advocacy organizations have called for environmental justice in this region of the city that has seen industrial pollution and disinvestment over many generations. Shedd and Urban Rivers are listening to and learning from community members and organizations to ensure we are investing in the health and resiliency of people and wildlife alike through projects like this floating wetland installation.

VISUALS: Find high-resolution photos and broadcast quality video here: https://personal.filesanywhere.com/guest/fs?v=8e7068885e6075a672af&C=50.
Photo Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Rachel Mittelstaedt
Video Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Sam Elia (Cejtin)