Re-reversing the Chicago River

By Dennis Byrne, June 9, 2010 at 2:14 pm

Unable to convince the Army Corps of Engineers to shut down Chicago Waterway locks to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes, some environmentalists are re-energizing another, and more drastic proposal--permanently sealing off the waterway from Lake Michigan.

The proposal would virtually undo what was considered a world engineering marvel at the beginning of the 20th Century: the reversal of the Chicago River. The engineering feat ended the public health plagues that were killing thousands in the young city caused by the dumping of rare sewage directly into Lake Michigan. It also created an all-water transportation link that propelled Chicago into the nation's second largest city in a matter of decades.

Continue reading in the Chicago Daily Observer

Filed under: Chicago politics, Environment, Illinois politics

Tags: Chicago River, commerce, ecology, environment, politics, public health

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Comments

WByrne said June 11, 2010 at 12:00 am

Maybe we should close the St. Lawrence Seaway?

DennisByrne1 said June 11, 2010 at 12:00 am

In reply to WByrne:

Yes, if we would follow the logic of some environmentalists to its logical conclusion, the St. Lawrence Seaway indeed should be shut donw.

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