Dirty River Breathes New Life

The U.S. Chicago River, once heavily polluted, is showing strong signs of revival — more fish species, clean water projects, and even plans to swim downtown again mark real environmental recovery.

“Really, the river was the alley. It was gross. You didn’t look at it, even think about it. You sent that water away,” said Krystina Kurth, Shedd Aquarium’s coordinator of conservation action.

Back in the 1970s, only about five fish species could survive in the river. Today, surveys record 77 species, alongside sightings of giant snapping turtles, mussels, and underwater plants making a comeback. The Clean Water Act of 1972 helped ban the dumping of pollutants, followed by massive investments in stormwater and sewage systems. Community projects, such as the Wild Mile eco-park, are restoring habitats, and Chicago plans to host its first downtown open-water swim in nearly 100 years. These steps demonstrate that even long-neglected ecosystems can heal — if people take action.