River Showdown: North Branch Chicago versus Des Plaines River

River Showdown: North Branch Chicago vs. Des Plaines - Exploring Our Local Waterways!

Hey CULAPSEDuventurers!

Ever zoom past a river in your car or on your bike and wonder what it’s really like up close? Our area is crisscrossed by some awesome waterways, and today we’re going on a virtual exploration trip to compare two big players: the North Branch of the Chicago River right in Niles, and the mighty Des Plaines River over in River Grove.

Which River Adventure is Calling You?

• Feeling like a smooth bike ride, an easy walk with clear paths, and seeing nature right in the neighborhood? The North Branch in Niles is your go-to!

• Craving a bit more of a wild hike, exploring thicker woods, spotting lots of different animals, and maybe a more adventurous paddle? The Des Plaines River in River Grove is waiting for you!

Of course, the best way to know the difference is to (safely!) explore them both! Always tell an adult where you’re going, check the weather, stay on marked trails, and be respectful of nature.

2025 Fishing Regulations Guide Available

2025 Fishing Regulations Guide Available:

Before hitting the water this year, don’t forget to purchase your Illinois Fishing License. While you’re at it, don’t forget to peruse the 2025-2026 Illinois Fishing Regulation Information. A new feature of this year’s guide is the addition of the “Family Friendly Places to Fish” section and other great information for ideas on where to cast off.

Trail Talk - Des Plaines vs Lincolnwood: A Tale of the Two Urban Trails

Hey fellow explorers!

On our ongoing adventures, we've been spending a lot of time along the Des Plaines River Trail near River Grove, particularly around the Grand Avenue and 5th Avenue area. It's a fascinating stretch, offering glimpses into the local ecology and, of course, the hidden world of our six-legged friends (you know who we're talking about!).

But the Chicagoland area boasts a fantastic network of trails, and it got me thinking: how does this section of the Des Plaines River Trail compare to another popular urban escape – the Lincolnwood Trail? Specifically, I'm curious about the stretch of the Lincolnwood Trail between McCormick Boulevard and Touhy Avenue, and then further south between McCormick and Devon Avenue.

Okay, here's a draft blog post for your CULAPSEDventures blog on Blogger, comparing and contrasting the Des Plaines River Trail near Grand/5th and Fullerton/5th in River Grove with the Lincolnwood Trail near McCormick/Touhy and McCormick/Devon:

The Big Question for You, Fellow Explorers:

For those of you who have experienced both of these trail sections:

What are the key differences you've noticed in terms of:

• The overall natural environment and biodiversity? (e.g., types of trees, undergrowth, presence of wildlife)
• The feel and accessibility of the trail itself? (e.g., surface, width, elevation changes)
• The level of human impact and surrounding development?
• Specifically, have you observed any differences in ant life or potential ant habitats along these two trail systems?

Share your experiences and insights in the comments below! Let's compare these two fantastic urban trails and see what hidden ecological stories they hold.

Happy Exploring!

#CULAPSEDadventures #DesPlainesRiverTrail #LincolnwoodTrail #ChicagoTrails #UrbanNature #Ants #Biodiversity #TrailComparison #RiverGrove #Lincolnwood

Targeting Pavement Ant Trajectories in Urban Settings

 Targeting Pavement Ants in Urban Settings

"Ants are among the few species that can handle bidirectional traffic flows, much like our roads, yet they move seamlessly without congestion," explains Marco Guerrieri, a professor specializing in road and railway infrastructure at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering and co-author of the study with Nicola Pugno, professor of solids and structural mechanics at the University of Trento and of materials science at the Queen Mary University of London.

By observing a 30-centimeter ant trail—equivalent to 100 times the body length of each ant—and analyzing video footage with deep learning algorithms, the researchers tracked individual ants' movements, mapping their trajectories, speeds, flows and densities.

"Ants follow pheromone trails marked by a leader ant, and move in platoons with small gaps and no overtaking," notes Guerrieri.

This strategy could make human mobility more efficient. Guerrieri says, "In the future, traffic systems for autonomous vehicles (CAVs) could be inspired by ant behavior. Just like insects communicate through pheromones, on smart roads, Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) could use advanced communication technologies to communicate with each other and with the road infrastructure management. In this way, they could form coordinated platoons, moving at high speeds with close spacing across parallel lanes. This approach could enhance traffic efficiency, improve levels of service, and reduce gas emissions."

Before Deep Learning:

1. Can this above ant observation be observed along Stockton Drive Edge at Lincoln Park Lagoon?  Can this above ant observation be observed along the Cannon Drive Edge at Lincoln Park Lagoon?  Can this above ant observation be observed at the Fullerton Avenue Edge?  Why?
2. What about at Caldwell Woods of Cook County Forest Preserve District, can this above ant observation be observed along Central Ave/ Carpenter's Rd Edge?  Can this above ant observation be observed at Touhy Avenue Edge?  Can this above ant observation be observed at the Milwaukee Avenue Edge?  Can the above ant observation be observed at the Devon Avenue Edge?   Can the above ant observation be observed at the Caldwell Avenue Edge?  Can the above ant observation be observed at the Lehigh Avenue Edge?  Why?
3.  Is it possible that fluctuations to the ant population traffic may occur at the above ant site edges?  What may cause the ant population traffic fluctuations at the above ant site edges?  If any?  Why?

 Characterizing Urban Avian Population Dynamics