Chicago River lunchtime speaker series starts

May 31, 2015 – Learning about the Chicago River is getting more convenient. Friends of the Chicago River will start a new lunchtime series on Monday of river-related presentations from the Chicago Riverwalk.

Understanding the New Chicago River has seven speakers scheduled over the next eight weeks and one more who has been invited. The presentations will take place on the Riverwalk in front of McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum in the southwest corner of the DuSable Bridge at Michigan Avenue.

The speaker series is a project of Friends of the Chicago River and the City of Chicago. Topics about the health of the river and recent improvements will be presented on Monday afternoons from 12:15 to 12:45. The series is free and open to the public.

June 1 – Chicago’s Bridges. Dan Burke, Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation.

June 8 – Chicago River Chemistry: What Does the Water Tell Us? Mark Hauser, Education Manager, Friends of the Chicago River.

June 15 – Landscapes Along the Chicago River: Parks, Boat Houses, Riverwalk. Cathy Breitenbach, Director of Cultural and Natural Resources, Chicago Park District.

June 22 – Our Liquid Asset, the Economic Benefits of a Clean Chicago River. Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director, Friends of the Chicago River.

July 6 – Increasing Wildlife Habitat Along the Chicago River. John Quail, Director of Watershed Planning, Friends of the Chicago River.

July 13 – Invasive Species: What’s the Word on Asian Carp? Dr. Phil Willink, Senior Research Biologist, Shedd Aquarium.

July 20 – Making Progress Towards A Clean Chicago River. Dr. Thomas Granato, Director of Monitoring & Research Department, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

July 27 – Tom Powers, Commissioner of Chicago Department of Water Management (invited).

Friends of the Chicago River is a 6,000-member nonprofit organization with a mission to improve and protect the Chicago/Calumet river system for people, plants, and animals.

Website: Friends of the Chicago River

Photo: McCormick Bridgehouse from north side of Chicago River.