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A treasured
river
Chicago Tribune
- 6/14
This
is regarding "Mosquito haven" (Voice of the people,
May 18). The letter writer calls the north branch of the Chicago
River "the biggest standing filthy water in our towns"
and "a giant stagnant cesspool."
I
would like to correct that unfortunate characterization of one
of our city's greatest assets.
The Chicago River does flow, it is not stagnant and it has been
considerably improved in the past 18 years since the first section
of the Deep Tunnel began collecting overflow from combined sewers
and keeping hundreds of billions of gallons of pollution out of
the local waterways.
The
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is
allowed by law to divert water from Lake Michigan at Wilmette
to prevent stagnant conditions in the river.
The
result is not a stagnant but a living river.
Witness
the tremendous increase in the number and variety of fish species
living in the river.
Notice
the great diversity of animal life along the north branch of the
Chicago River--blue herons, beavers, ducks and birds.
Take
note of the number of people who take advantage of the river's
natural beauty by walking, canoeing, kayaking and fishing along
the north branch.
The
real estate market for homes and condominiums sited near the river
is further evidence of the improvements in and along the Chicago
River.
The
district is committed to continuing these improvements by keeping
the waterway free of debris, by finishing work on the Tunnel and
Reservoir Plan, and by monitoring the quality of the water.
I
hope the letter writer will take another look at the Chicago River
and see the beauty of this urban treasure.
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