River Ecology and Governance Task Force

The River Ecology and Governance Task Force is charged with coordinating between government agencies, civic and nonprofit organizations, private developers and local communities to achieve common goals for the betterment of Chicago's rivers. Its purview comprises every riverfront within the city limits, including the Chicago River, the North Shore Channel, the Sanitary and Ship Canal, and the Calumet, Little Calumet and Des Plaines rivers.

The task force aims to transform Chicago's waterway system into a thriving and ecologically integrated natural asset, capable of accommodating the needs of people and wildlife through coordinated planning, investment, management, stewardship and programming.

 

In addition to uniting the varied organizations and individuals involved in Chicago's rivers, the task force will actively coordinate with other agencies that have important oversight functions, including the Chicago Waterways Committee, the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee, and the Great Rivers Implementation Committee, among others.

An executive order signed in January 2019 directed the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to create the task force. Since then, the task force has assisted DPD with shaping and updating the Chicago River Design Guidelines and its associated brand standards and guidelines.

Meetings and Materials

The Task Force and its working groups have a set list of upcoming meetings available. In 2023, meetings will be held via Zoom from 3-4:30 pm on the following dates:

March 14 | June 6 | September 12 | December 5

Community organizations and members of the general public interested in attending task force or working group meetings should contact DPD's Jamie Osborne at Jamie.Osborne@cityofchicago.org.

The REGTF is structured into two working groups: System Plans Working Group and the Development Review Working Group. The System Plans Working Group focuses on how the River is planned for as a holistic system and how these planning efforts intersect with other large systems (transportation, critical infrastructure, open space and recreation, etc.).

The Development Review Working Group reviews specific planned development proposals and potential site changes for buildings and properties along the river’s edge to ensure that new development is in line with the natural environment, recreation, and connectivity goals of the Chicago River Design Guidelines (2019) and the Property Design - Lake and River Shorelines requirements of the Calumet Design Guidelines (2004). For Development Review Working Group materials, click here.

Below is a chart detailing past meetings of the task force and its smaller working groups, and materials provided at each meeting.

Date Meeting Materials
March 14, 2023 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2023 Q1 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

Dec. 6, 2022 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2022 Q4 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

Sept. 13, 2022 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2022 Q3 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

June 7, 2022 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2022 Q2 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

USACE References

Meeting Summary

March 15, 2022 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2022 Q1 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

Dec. 7, 2021 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2021 Q4 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

Sept. 14, 2021 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2021 Q3 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

June 8, 2021 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
2021 Q2 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

March 9, 2021  River Ecology And Governance Task Force
2021 Q1 Meeting

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

Dec. 17, 2020

River Ecology And Governance Task Force

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

June 26, 2019

River Ecology And Governance Task Force

Agenda

Meeting 

Presentation

FOCR presentation

Meeting summary

June 21, 2019

Community Connections Working Group

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

June 18, 2019

Science & Design Working

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

June 17, 2019

Stewardship & Volunteers Working Group

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

June 4, 2019

River Trails Working Group

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

April 30, 2019

River Ecology and Governance Task Force

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

April 29, 2019

Science and Design Working Group Agenda
April 18, 2019 Stewardship & Volunteers

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary
April 18, 2019 Community Connections Working Group Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

April 12, 2019 River Trails Working Group Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

April 5, 2019 Science and Design Working Group

Agenda

Presentation

Meeting summary

March 14, 2019 River Ecology and Governance Task Force
Launch Meeting

Agenda

Presentation