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ÌýThirteen years after Friends first called for sewage treatment plant effluent disinfection in our report, Waterways for Our Future,Ìýyesterday the ceremonial shovels hitÌýthe ground.

A massive riverbank restoration project at Horner Park was under attack by neighbors who were concerned that the plan removed too many trees. The US Army Corps of Engineers revised the high quality ecosystem restorationÌýplan to address the objections.

The Chicago River has been improving for years but there are still complex problems that must be dealt with. Find out more about it asÌýChicago Now explores the Chicago River with Friends' executive director, Margaret Frisbie.

The Chicago River is no longer the dumping ground it used to be, yet there is still plenty of garbage thoughtlesslyÌýdiscarded near and in the riverÌýnot to mention what flows in duringÌýrain events or combined sewer overflows. Find out how thatÌýgarbage impacts the river's health throughÌýa new study.

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The South Branch of the Chicago River is emerging from its long history of industry and pollution. Find out more about it on tour with NBC5's Carol Marin and Friends' executive director, Margaret Frisbie.

µÚÒ»³Ô¹Ï ÌýhostedÌýits 8th Annual Big Fish Ball on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. This annual fundraising event was held along the river on the Merchandise Mart’s Riverside Drive between the Wells Street and Franklin Street bridges. Unique river-centric spectacles and surprises were aÌýpart of this one-of-a-kind gala benefitting the river. We want to share thisÌýgreat video that captured the spirit our our gala event. Thanks to all our guests and sponsors for supporting us this yearÌýand making it the most successful Big Fish Ball yet!

The Chicago River took center stage Sunday, June 9 duringÌýShall We Gather at the River, the culmination of Chicago Symphony Orchestra's RIVERS Festival at Ping Tom Memorial Park in partnership with Friends and the Chicago Park District.

Check out this video produced by the Chicago Park District for the River Fest, a musical celebration of one of Chicago's most important landmarks and treasures, the Chicago River. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Park District partnered with µÚÒ»³Ô¹Ï to spotlight our river and bring people down Ìýto celebrate its renaissance and recovery.

On May 9, Friends, together with partner organization Openlands, released a report that proves what we knew all along, investing in the Chicago River is good for the river and good for the region.

Photo coverage of the April 18, 2013 flooding highlights the importance of understanding the link between stormwater management and runoff and our sensitive river system. That day, expressways were closed, basements filled with water...