Imagine French explorers paddling canoes here long ago. They met Native American tribes. These tribes used a ceremonial pipe called a “calumet”. The Calumet River got its name from this pipe. It became a symbol of peace.
The Calumet River is a system of industrialized rivers and canals. It flows between Chicago, Illinois, and Gary, Indiana. The Little Calumet River and the Grand Calumet River were once one. Water flowed west from Indiana into Illinois. Then it turned east to Lake Michigan. Now, the system is part of the Chicago Area Waterway System. Locks control the water flow away from Lake Michigan.
Before humans changed it the water flowed westward. It flowed from LaPorte County, Indiana, along the Little Calumet River. The river made a hairpin turn at Blue Island. It flowed east along the Grand Calumet into Lake Michigan. This happened at Miller Beach in Gary, Indiana. The area is very flat. The river’s course and direction changed often. The river has only a small current.
Industrial development began around the 1870s. By 1890, the western Grand Calumet River was polluted. Steel mills, foundries, and factories dumped waste. Pollution continued to spread. Decades of pollution left the river sediments contaminated.
The Calumet River originally drained Lake Calumet to Lake Michigan. A canal connected the two Calumet Rivers. The T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam was installed in 1960. It controls water movement between Lake Michigan and the river.
The Grand Calumet River starts in Miller Beach. It flows 16 miles through Gary, East Chicago, and Hammond. It also passes through Calumet City and Burnham in Illinois. Most of the river’s flow drains into Lake Michigan. It goes through the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. About 1,500 cubic feet of water per second enters the lake. Much of the river’s flow comes from municipal and industrial sources. This includes cooling water and stormwater overflows. Contaminants continue to pollute the area.
The Little Calumet River originally flowed from New Durham Township, Indiana. It met the Grand Calumet and Calumet rivers. The Portage Burns Waterway split the Little Calumet River’s flow in 1926. East of Hart Ditch, it flows into Lake Michigan. West of the ditch, it is named Little Calumet River. It connects to the Cal-Sag Channel. This arm of the river is 41 miles long.
The Cal-Sag Channel connects the Little Calumet River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. It is 16 miles long. It was dug from 1911 to 1922. The Cal-Sag Channel serves barge traffic and pleasure crafts.
The Calumet River faced pollution challenges in the 20th century. Industrial activities and urbanization caused this. The river suffered from industrial discharges and contaminated sediments. Heavy metals and petroleum products polluted the water.
Efforts are underway to revitalize the Calumet River. Restoration projects focus on improving water quality. They create green spaces and recreational amenities. These efforts enhance public access and support wildlife habitats. They also promote economic development. The Calumet River is a testament to both industrial progress and environmental recovery.