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 Luke Mich at Luke.Mich@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 |
June 6, 2023 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2023 Q2 Meeting |
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March 14, 2023 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2023 Q1 Meeting |
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Dec. 6, 2022 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2022 Q4 Meeting |
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Sept. 13, 2022 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2022 Q3 Meeting |
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June 7, 2022 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2022 Q2 Meeting |
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March 15, 2022 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2022 Q1 Meeting |
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Dec. 7, 2021 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2021 Q4 Meeting |
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Sept. 14, 2021 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2021 Q3 Meeting |
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June 8, 2021 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force 2021 Q2 Meeting |
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March 9, 2021 | River Ecology And Governance Task Force 2021 Q1 Meeting |
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Dec. 17, 2020 |
River Ecology And Governance Task Force | |
June 26, 2019 |
River Ecology And Governance Task Force | |
June 21, 2019 |
Community Connections Working Group | |
June 18, 2019 |
Science & Design Working | |
June 17, 2019 |
Stewardship & Volunteers Working Group | |
June 4, 2019 |
River Trails Working Group | |
April 30, 2019 |
River Ecology and Governance Task Force | |
April 29, 2019 |
Science and Design Working Group | Agenda |
April 18, 2019 | Stewardship & Volunteers | Meeting summary |
April 18, 2019 | Community Connections Working Group | Agenda |
April 12, 2019 | River Trails Working Group | Agenda |
April 5, 2019 | Science and Design Working Group | |
March 14, 2019 | River Ecology and Governance Task Force Launch Meeting |