WBEZ is broadcasting a great series this week about the water connections to Chicago. Reporter Gabriel Spitzer is traveling the Illinois River to explore how Chicago and Lake Michigan are connected to the Mississippi River, while Brian Mann is exploring the St. Lawrence Seaway to see how the other end of the Great Lakes is connected to the larger world.
Both the Sanitary & Ship Channel connecting the Great Lakes to the west, and the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting the Great Lakes to the east are facing similar challenges of keeping out invasive species and conserving the clean water of the lakes.