have a storage capacity of . Reservoirs Effects Severe weather events have forced water management agencies to pump excess wastewater into the lake and river in order to prevent flooding. These incidents have decreased in frequency as more of the Deep Tunnel system has become operational. Long considered an open sewer, the Chicago River now hosts more than 50 species of fish and increased wildlife along its shores. Substantial development is occurring along many portions of the riverfront. Canoeing is once again allowed on the waterway, but swimming is still prohibited due to high pollution levels. On October 3, 1986, a heavy thunderstorm drenched the southern portion of the Deep Tunnel area with several inches of rain in a short period of time. While the Deep Tunnel system performed satisfactorily by absorbing excess water, water within the system itself rushed past the north side of Chicago and near the Bahá'í Temple in Wilmette. Geysers of over were reported in both locations for up to an hour as the water was redistributed more evenly through the system. A geyser erupted downtown at the corner of Jefferson and Monroe, trapping a woman inside her car as it filled with water. A system of watertight bulkheads has since been installed to prevent the event from occurring again. During the Chicago Flood of 1992, the water from the Chicago River that leaked into the long-disused underground freight tunnel system was eventually drained into the Deep Tunnel network, which itself was still under construction. Sources References External links Set of photos of the Morrison Knudsen segment of the tunnel Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Video of TARP on YouTube Video of TARP on YouTube Article and map in the Encyclopedia of Chicago Government of Chicago Buildings and structures in Chicago Flood control projects Flood control in the United States Waste processing sites Planned developments Engineering projects Proposed infrastructure in the United States Tunnels in Illinois Proposed tunnels in the United States