ILLINOIS EPA

The North Branch of the Chicago River watershed includes 3 tributary streams: the Skokie River, Middle and West Forks of the North Branch Chicago River that collectively make up the North Branch Chicago River located in Lake and Cook County, Illinois. All three tributaries and the mainstem of the North Branch Chicago River are identified by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) as having impaired water quality. Fecal coliform, total suspended solids, phosphorus, chloride and 17 additional pollutants are identified as causing the impairment. As a result, the North Branch Chicago River and its three tributaries do not meet Illinois EPA's designated uses for aquatic life and primary contact recreation. Illinois EPA's goal is to improve water quality so the watershed can be removed from the state's impaired waters list (303(d) list). To improve water quality most cost efficiently and effectively, Illinois EPA is encouraging watershed communities to form a "workgroup"..