IL Section ASCE EWRI & COPRI Chicago Area Waterways Control Room Tour
The Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) is the network of existing rivers, canals and hydraulic control structures that isolate Lake Michigan from the Chicago River, the Calumet River, and the North Shore Channel. The CAWS is designed, during normal operation, to drain away from Lake Michigan towards the Des Plaines River south of the Lockport Powerhouse in Lockport. IL. During periods of heavy precipitation, the hydraulic control structures may be opened to allow water to flow out into Lake Michigan to prevent flooding in the urbanized area. These events called reversals allow polluted water to enter Lake Michigan and may result in swimming bans along the lakefront.
The operation of the CAWS is under the control of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The actual Waterways Control Room is located on the first floor of the Main Office Building located at 100 East Erie Street in Chicago, Illinois.
In partnership with the Coasts, Oceans, Ports & Rivers Institute (COPRI), EWRI will host a discussion of the CAWS, and a tour of the Waterways Control Room in the Main Office Building on October 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
There is only space for 15 people on the tour, which will last about 30 minutes. PDHs will not be given for this event. Contact Jerry McGovern at jeromemcgovern@att.net to reserve your space.
