The Calumet River is a system of heavily industrialized rivers and canals that continues south after a series of bridges. The river originally simply drained Lake Calumet to Lake Michigan. A canal was dug connecting the two Calumet Rivers at the point where the name changes from Grand Calumet River to Little Calumet River. The Thomas J. O'Brien Lock and Dam was installed across the river in 1960 to control the movement of water between Lake Michigan and the river.