When Friends of Chicago River founded Adopt A River downtown last year, they hoped to develop and pilot river improvement projects that would engage and educate people, and improve the river. With that in mind, over the past eight months Friends has worked with City staff, fish biologists, and others to flesh out the idea of a "fish hotel." Based on the premise that in urban areas fish need help finding places to do basic fish business (eating, reproducing, avoiding predators), the fish hotel will really be a mini-ecosystem for a variety of fish that could some day be installed anywhere with a vertical wall.
"Fish, like any creature, need good habitat," said Margaret Frisbie, deputy director of Friends, "and we hope with the fish hotel to provide that. The hotel will have plants above water to provide shade and attract insects and below the surface will be nooks and crannies for little fish to hide as well as places for macro invertebrates to live."
"In addition," said Frisbie, " the goal is for the hotel to be beautiful and educational. The plants above water will be attractive and there will be interpretive signage and an underwater camera so that people can see what is happening in the stream." Friends is working with Ted Gray & Associates and WRD Environmental on the project, which has a goal of river installation by the summer. For more information, call Friends at (312) 939-0490 or visit www.chicagoriver.org.
This information is reprinted with permission from the newsletter of the Friends of Chicago River.
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