Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago has agreed to pay $4.8 million to settle a complaint over harm caused to fish in the Chicago River. The issue arose from the building’s cooling system, which pulls in river water to regulate temperature but was found to be sucking in thousands of fish and other aquatic life.
The legal action, started in 2018 by the Illinois attorney general, state environmental officials, the Sierra Club, and Friends of the Chicago River, revealed that the hotel’s water intake did not meet regulations designed to protect river life. A Cook County judge ruled in September that the tower violated both state and federal laws.
Part of the $4.8 million settlement includes $1.5 million in state fines, $300,000 to cover legal fees, and $3 million dedicated to restoring the aquatic habitat. The Trump Organization, which owns and manages the property through a trust overseen by Donald Trump Jr., has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to fund the habitat restoration project as part of resolving the case.
The hotel sits right next to the Chicago River, close to famous landmarks like the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower. Its cooling system draws up to 21 million gallons of river water daily. The Sierra Club argues that this system’s design was causing significant harm to wildlife in the water.
Jack Darin, the director of the Sierra Club’s Illinois chapter, said the settlement is a step toward protecting the river and holding polluters responsible. He also pointed out that environmental enforcement at the federal level is weakening, making local actions more important.
A spokesperson for the Trump hotel said the restoration project will help the river’s ecosystem and benefit Chicago residents and visitors. They added that the hotel looks forward to working with others to support the river’s health in the future.
Built in 2008, the Trump International Hotel & Tower includes retail space, a hotel, and condos. This settlement ends a long-standing dispute but highlights the challenges cities face in balancing development with environmental protection.