EcoMyths.org

In the mood to blame wetlands for the blood-sucking, possible disease-spreading skeeters in your yard? It’s an urban legend that wetlands are a primary source of the mosquitoes that spread diseases like West Nile Virus. In fact, a healthy, functioning wetland can actually help reduce mosquito populations. A vibrant wetland ecosystem is home to fish, … Read more

Contrary to popular belief, wetlands provide important functions and are often called “nature’s kidneys” or “ecological supermarkets.” These important functions include storing flood water, filtering dirty water, and protecting shorelines. Wetlands also support an extensive food chain. If you like crawfish, you’ll find them in wetlands. Many cultures, including the Cajuns of Louisiana and various … Read more

True or false: the Chicago River doesn’t look clean, so it must be unusable. False! Looks can be deceiving. Although the Chicago River is murky, it has come a long way from the days of foul pollution and dumping. In fact, the water in the river is clean enough today that fish species and other … Read more

Think that since streams in Northern Illinois flow into Lake Michigan, Chicago’s water pollution remains local? Think again. The Illinois River drains 11,000 square miles of our state, and draws water from three major river basins in the region. The river then flows west into the Mississippi River, not eastward towards Lake Michigan. Only water … Read more

Some parts of northern Wisconsin and Michigan are rugged landscapes dominated by boulders, gravel, and sand. These popular vacation areas have rivers and streams that are swift-flowing and appear clear, cool, and inviting. But here in northern Illinois, our land surface is dominated by flat topography and fertile soils. Over the years as agriculture and … Read more

Contrary to what many believe, the Chicago River is home to a diverse collection of nearly 70 species of fish, according to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. This increase from about 10 species in the 1970s can be attributed to the improving water quality in the Chicago River. Accordingly, the Chicago River has become a … Read more