Together, these two streams join and flow south until they meet up with the Sanitary and Ship Canal, which begins near Ashland and Archer. An tributary of the South Branch, which flows North into the Sanitary and Ship Canal is called Bubbly Creek. The Sanitary and Ship Canal flows southwest out of Chicago until it meets up in Lockport with the DesPlaines River. Carp and goldfish make up a large portion of the fish population although there are also bullhead, darters, minnows, sunfish, bass, and visitors from the Lake like trout and salmon. Over 50 species of fish have been identified in the varied reaches of the River.
Birds also live along the banks.
Great blue heron, kingfishers, warblers, ducks, and many more are common. Signs of beaver, muskrat, and even mink have been sighted on the river. Friends works in a number of different areas to promote the Chicago River as a resource for everyone. Friends hosts public cruises, walking tours, and canoe trips May through October. Friends works to educate and involve more and more people in the River, through workdays at restoration projects, Chicago River Rescue Day, and water quality monitoring programs.