Chicago River Swim

Yesterday was the first Chicago River Swim in 98 years. The improvement in the Chicago River due to the Clean Water Act, improved wastewater treatment by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and decisions by Illinois EPA, U.S. EPA and the Illinois Pollution Control Board made this swim possible and healthful. The Clean Water Acts 1983 "fishable and swimmable" goal is far from being realized nationally, but we have had successes even, as today, when national leadership was not helpful.

I will immodesty claim to have had some part in this progress and wish to thank Ann Alexander, Jessica Dexter, Sue Hedman, Cynthia Skrukrud and Nancy Stoner, as well as the following organizations - Environmental Law & Policy Center, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club - for their work.