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The U.S. 7th Circuit Courts of Appeals rejected a bid by other statesÌýto close Chicago's locks in an effort to stop the movement of Asian carp. The judge writing for the panel, Diane Wood,Ìýwrote that the U.S. Army CorpsÌýof Engineers is "taking its stewardship over the CAWS and the carp problem seriously."

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Since early June the Chicago River has been deluged with sewage and polluted stormwater becasue of the frequent heavy rains that have overwhelmedÌýthe tunnel and reservoir Ìý(TARP/Deep Tunnel) system meant to protectÌýthe river. ÌýFind out more about it and what you can do by listening to Friends' executive director and others on "The Morning Shift."

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources'Ìý(IDNR)Ìýdraft plan for controllingÌýnonpoint source pollution or some reaches of the Chicago River system and Lake MichiganÌýhas been posted online for review by the general public. The goal is toÌýrestore and protect coastal waters.

New techniques for permeable paving, which help prevent flooding and pollution from reaching the Chicago River, are being implemented this week at Lawrence’s Fisheries, a Friends’ business member,Ìýby Ozinga Chicago, a business member as well.

µÚÒ»³Ô¹Ï and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources released 30,000 channelÌýcatfish into the Chicago River system on June 10. A first step in a major river restoration project funded by the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund, 10,000Ìýwere released downtown at the confluence of the North Branch, Main Stem, and South Branch and 20,000 into the Little Calumet.

On June 5, µÚÒ»³Ô¹Ï's annual gala, the Big Fish Ball,Ìýraised over $250,000 to support Friends' mission to improve and protect the Chicago River. Held on Riverside Drive in front of the Merchandise Mart, the event was near capacity with 470 diners there to enjoy the lovely summer weather, wild river animals, delicious dinner, and ÌýtheÌýbeautiful river. The Big Fish Ball was presented by Here: A Nokia Company.

The Chicago Housing Authority recently approved a $3.4 million loan for the redevelopment of Lathrop Homes, marking a turning point for this project which has been a decade in the works. The preliminary design for the site includesÌý6 acres ofÌýgreen,Ìýcommunity space, multiple public walkways along the river, andÌýa building layout focused onÌýincreasing connectivity to theÌýsurrounding community. Needless to say, µÚÒ»³Ô¹Ï is very much looking forward to the benefits the redevelopment of this historic community will bring to the North Branch of the Chicago River.

The Michigan Avenue bridge's 94th birthdayÌýwas a great excuse for a party atÌýFriends' McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum yesterday when dozens of onlookers sang "Happy Birthday" after enjoying with amazement the giant gears raising the bridge for sailboats headed to the lake.

Great progress is being made on the construction of phase 2 of theÌýChicago Riverwalk whichÌýshould be complete by the end of 2014. The riverwalk will provide a wonderful array of activities ranging from dining to boating to just hanging out to enjoy the pagentry of the Chicago River.

InÌýgood news for the Chicago River system, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's Watershed Management Ordinance for Cook County went into effect May 1, 2014. The Ordinance, or WMO, governs how stormwater is managed as new development takes place in Cook County.