Doesn’t “Chewab Skokie” sound enchanting? It means “big wet prairie” in Potawatomi. This is what the Native Americans called the Skokie River. They didn’t see it as a river. They saw it as a long wetland ribbon.
The Skokie River flows for 20 miles. It winds through Chicago’s northern suburbs in Illinois. The Skokie River is also known as the East Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River.
Historically, the Skokie River flowed into Lake Michigan. It did this via the Chicago River. But everything changed in 1900. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built. This made the Chicago River drain southwest. The Skokie River then became a tributary. It flowed toward the Mississippi River.
The Skokie River begins in Waukegan. This area was historically a wetland. The river flows south. It passes through Lake County’s North Shore suburbs. Then the Skokie River enters Cook County. It joins the North Branch of the Chicago River. This happens at Wilmette Golf Club.
Imagine the Skokie River long ago. It was a wetland river. It flowed slowly through a valley. Two sand dunes bordered Lake Michigan. The river had no clear banks. Wet prairie grasses and forbs filled it. The Skokie River swelled and shrank. This depended on the seasons and rainfall.
The Skokie River teemed with fish and waterbirds. Native Americans had a seasonal village at the river’s mouth. This is now Morton Grove.
Over time, the Skokie River’s drainage area became valuable. It was near Chicago commuter lines. Developers saw its potential in the late 19th century. But the river was prone to flooding. This created problems.
In the 20th century, the Skokie River became highly altered. It was ditched and embanked. The river was extensively landscaped. In Lake County, golf courses appeared. The Skokie River was re-landscaped into water hazards.
Further south in Cook County, the Forest Preserve District acquired much of the river basin. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps transformed it. They created the Skokie Lagoons Forest Preserve. This was the largest CCC project in the United States.
The wetlands were dredged. Seven artificial lagoons were created. These lagoons are up to 16 feet deep. They cover 190 acres. In the 1990s, the Forest Preserve District tried to restore some of the original wetland terrain.
Even today, the Skokie River floodplain is being re-landscaped. In 2013, the Wilmette Golf Club rebuilt its grounds. The goal was to reduce flooding. The Forest Preserve District restocks the Skokie River with fish. These include bass and walleye. They also keep carp under control. Carp are an invasive species.
In 2019, floodplain properties faced assessment reductions. This was due to property value threats. More than 1,100 parcels were affected. However, this plan was later reversed. There was a public outcry.
The Skokie River has transformed over time. It went from a natural wetland to a managed waterway. It reflects changing priorities and values. The Skokie River’s story continues. It is a story of nature. It is also a story of human intervention.