Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Allison Fore Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer 312.751.6626 Press Release [email protected] 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611 For immediate release June 12, 2020 Dam removal allows fsh migration to new upstream habitat MWRD-tagged largemouth bass reappears 30 miles away A largemouth bass navigated its way up the North Branch of the Chicago River A largemouth bass travelled upstream on the North Branch of the Chicago River to the Skokie River after the MWRD tagged it miles away of Goose Island. Tat and crossed into the Skokie River approximately 30 miles away (map provided by passage was not possible until late 2018. Austin Happel, Shedd Aquarium).. A largemouth bass recently caught in the Skokie River is giv- ence of the North Branch and North Shore Channel between ing new optimism and understanding for fsh migration in the Foster Avenue and Argyle Street, the dam was demolished as Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) for scientists with part of a restoration efort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chi- neers, Chicago District (USACE), MWRD, and Chicago Park cago (MWRD) and partners. District to allow upstream fsh migration and improve recre- ational opportunities. MWRD aquatic biologists originally caught the fsh in Octo- ber 2019, in the North Branch Canal by Goose Island during “We study fsh in our continuing assessment of water quality, a routine fsh survey. Less than seven months later, fsherman and this incredible discovery suggests remarkable fsh mobil- Sey Jay was fshing in the Skokie River just south of the Skokie ity and a healthy ecology that has been made possible by our Lagoons by the Erickson Woods in the Cook County Forest many partnerships interested in river restoration,” said MWRD Preserves near Winnetka when he came across the same fsh. President Kari K. Steele. “We thank our fsherman for relaying Another fsherman had left their catch behind on a stringer this big catch and our many stakeholders determined to provide that was snagged on a log, he said. thriving ecosystems in our waterways.” “I was going to toss it back and noticed it had a tag on its back,” Tis was an important catch and more proof that dam removals said Jay, who has been fshing local spots for about 40 years provide fsh passage and the potential to promote biodiversity and markets frozen fsh for a living. He decided to look a little in the Chicago area waterways, according to Margaret Frisbie, closer and noticed tag number “34111” with the MWRD’s executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. name on it. “Friends of the Chicago River has been imagining fsh swim- Tis rare fnd would never have been possible if not for a ming freely through the river since 2002 when we started the partnership efort to remove a century-old dam on the North dam removal project with Illinois Department of Natural Branch of the Chicago River in 2018. Located at the confu- Resources (IDNR) almost two decades ago,” said (continued) Dam removal allows fsh migration to new upstream habitat, cont. Te demolition of the North Branch Dam has led to a wide opening for the passage of fsh to swim upstream. Frisbie. “Tis largemouth bass represents strong partnership support of the Wild Mile Chicago project, coordinated by Ur- between the Chicago Park District, IDNR, MWRD, the U.S. ban Rivers. None of the other fsh were reportedly recaptured. Army Corps and Friends as well as good stewardship, tenacity, On the Wild Mile, along the North Branch Canal and Turning and proof that if we invest in the Chicago River system wildlife Basin, between Chicago and North Avenues, Urban Rivers and will respond. We could not be more thrilled.” the Shedd Aquarium are creating the world’s frst mile-long foating eco-park. Te project reclaims the waterway while pro- Te North Branch Dam and its four-foot drop have now been viding an accessible public space for the community. Te Wild replaced by a series of rifes, step pools, cobbles, gravels and Mile was outlined over the course of many community meet- sands that slow the fow of water and make it possible for the ings with the Chicago Department of Planning and Develop- fsh to pass upstream. During a feasibility study, USACE bi- ment to build a renewed urban ecology. Partners and planners ologists sampled the reach just upstream of the Dam and only said it will help generate cleaner, healthier water and more vi- found one green sunfsh. Now fsh are abundant. brant wildlife ecosystems. “It’s fantastic to see that fsh are responding to the removal MWRD aquatic biologists collect and monitor aquatic life of the dam, but it’s also not surprising,” said Nicholas A. Bar- through fsh surveys. Te MWRD conducts fsh monitoring kowski, fsh biologist at the USACE. “Fish were observed by periodically at 28 locations throughout its service area, which USACE staf swimming upstream during the demolition. As includes the Chicago, Calumet, and Des Plaines River Systems. soon as a large enough gap was created in the dam, fsh started Tey weigh, measure, and inspect fsh for disease and other making their way upstream.” anomalies before releasing the fsh back unharmed into the wa- ter. USACE fsh biologists also conducted a 15-minute electro- fshing survey downstream of the dam in 2019. A total of 266 “Since the MWRD began monitoring in 1974, our scientists fsh were captured and 17 native species were identifed utiliz- have seen the number of fsh species found in the CAWS rise ing the confuence of the North Branch of the Chicago River. from 10 to 77, including 60 that have been found in the CAWS Bluegill, gizzard shad and largemouth bass were the three most since 2000,” said Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos. “Our abundant species. Other notable recreationally important spe- work to improve processes has had the projected impact of cies consisted of white crappie, channel catfsh and pumpkin- dramatically improving the area waterways, and the future of seed. USACE plans to conduct additional monitoring upstream the CAWS is bright.” of the confuence in the summer of 2020 to further monitor the success of the dam removal. Anglers who catch a fsh with an MWRD tag are asked to document it when possible and contact public.afairs@mwrd. Te fsh, estimated to be four to fve years old, was one of 10 org to report it. largemouth bass that were tagged by the MWRD in 2019 in Recovering Resources, Transforming Water Established in 1889, the MWRD (www.mwrd.org) is an award winning, special purpose government agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management in Cook County, Illinois..