A Handbook of Bank Restoration Designs for the Chicago River
and other Urban Streams
Download the
handbook.
The Chicago River, one of the City of Chicago’s most valuable natural
assets, was instrumental in creating this global city on the shores of
Lake Michigan. Once a natural waterway winding through wetlands and
prairies, the river today flows through suburban neighborhoods and dense
urban downtowns. Parks, trails, and natural areas adjoin industry,
universities, and boat yards along its banks. Through two hundred years of
human activity, development, and industrial uses, however, the river has
lost much of its natural character and suffers from erosion and impairment
of its water and quality as habitat.
A design charrette held in 1998 assembled experts in natural river bank
and riverwalk design to create solutions to enhance and restore the banks
of the Chicago River. This handbook presents the results of that design
charrette in both graphic and narrative form. It is intended for use by
property owners, developers, engineers, architects, and city planners who
are involved in the development along the banks of the river, as well as
other citizens and community organizations outside the Chicago region that
have an interest in restoring degraded riverbanks.
The handbook first presents a vision for the Chicago River as a healthy
and attractive aquatic resource that supports recreation, supports the
needs of a vibrant city and economy, celebrates the rich cultural heritage
of the City, and enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Chicago
and surrounding communities.
Historically, river edges were managed with hard, concrete and steel
solutions. However, softer, more natural riverbank solutions can achieve
the same level of protection with more benefits for people and wildlife.
Solutions for restoring and naturalizing the river banks, replacing the
standard sheet piling used along much of its course, and using
bioengineering techniques (vegetative solutions to bank stabilization) are
presented with diagrammatic explanations.
River overlooks, which bring people to the riverfront, can serve as
interpretive opportunities, scenic vistas, wildlife outlooks, fishing
areas, community gateways, greenway connectors, and informal meeting
areas. Techniques for creating and restoring wildlife habitat are also
explored, as are concepts for floating habitat islands. A recommended
native plant list for riverbank restoration, stabilization, and habitat is
included with descriptions of bloom color, preferred water depth for
planting, and height. The handbook wraps up by providing sources of
additional information.
