Watch: 30K Catfish Released in Chicago, Little Calumet Rivers

The Chicago River might have the reputation of being overly polluted at times, but on Tuesday about 30,000 catfish were released into it and the Little Calumet River, a sign of environmental improvements in the rivers.

"This is exciting because the Chicago River is evolving into a place where these fish can thrive," Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, said to the Chicago Tribune. "This project is symbolic of how far the Chicago River has evolved. We can release catfish and know that they will thrive."

Read the entire report from the Chicago Tribune.

The release was paid for using part of a $300,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, according to the Tribune. 

According to a video report by CBS, "it's part of a much bigger picture to restore life to the way it's supposed to be" to help repopulate the Chicago River. Years of pollution and development brought down the number of species in the river, especially channel catfish, but that is changing: There were only a few species in the river during the '70s, but now there are more than 70.

Read more from the Friends of the Chicago River.