CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago nonprofit Urban Rivers has received a conservation award from the Field Museum for its work toward revitalizing the Chicago River.
Field Museum scientists were collecting water samples of the Chicago River along nonprofit Urban Rivers' floating Wild Mile in Goose Island on Monday.
“It really aims to transform this canal into a floating park where we can have the main attraction be the wildlife that is coming back to the space,” said Nick Wesley, the executive director of Urban Rivers.
Urban Rivers has been working with the Field Museum to analyze environmental DNA in the river
“There's not a ton of research on how these things affect an urban ecosystem,” he said. “So, [we’re] working with the Field Museum and figuring out exactly how this stuff is performing.”
Field Museum scientist Sophie Picq said the collaborative efforts help provide researchers with a “broad picture of all the different animals that are living in this river.”
The work took place as Urban Rivers is being recognized with the Field Museum's Parker/Gentry Award.
"We focused on giving the Parker/Gentry award to somebody … that might not be in the spotlight, grassroots organizations that are really just making an effort, boots on the ground,” said Field Museum scientist Lesley de Souza.
Urban Rivers is the first local organization to receive the award.
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