Monthly Archives: September 2011

October Water Events in Chicagoland

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Michael Bryson

This October marks a couple of fascinating and educational events related to water. These would make excellent field trip alternatives for students in my PLS 391 or SUST 220 classes this fall, as well as interesting forums for anyone interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Water | Comments Off

Taking Stock of the Chicago River

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Michael Bryson

The Chicago River has been in the news quite a bit these last few months, and for a waterway long treated as a transportation corridor and sewage receptacle, its future is looking brighter — even as city officials, water quality … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Pollution, Rivers, Water | 2 Comments

Exploring Salt Creek and Busse Lake

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Michael Bryson

Every semester I take my Roosevelt University undergraduate students on field trips — hands-on learning experiences that allow us to put some of the academic ideas we’ve studied into practice, work together in teams, and create a sense of community. … Continue reading →

Posted in Classes, Field Trips, Land use, Parklands, Rivers, Water | 2 Comments

Seeing Rivers as Ecosystems in LA and Chicago

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Michael Bryson

For the first time in decades, people in Los Angeles this month were able to paddle along the much-maligned and concrete-encased Los Angeles River without breaking the law. It was, if you’ll pardon the pun, a watershed moment — both … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Rivers, Urban ecology, Water | 3 Comments

From the City to the Country: Visiting the Will County Fair

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Michael Bryson

Late every August, my family performs a sacred ritual. We get up early, eat a stout breakfast, then drive east from our urban homestead in Joliet out into the countryside. Our destination: Peotone, Illinois — home of the utterly splendid … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Family, Joliet, Land use, Transportation | Comments Off