They Cleaned Up Cleveland
Forty years ago the Cuyahoga River caught on fire due to heavy pollution, but Cleveland has since turned this unfortunate incident into an opportunity by striving to make itself of the nation’s greenest cities. After nearly four decades of hard work, Cleveland has grown to become a “green city on a blue lake.”
The infamous burning Cuyahoga River led to the creation of the Clean Water Act of 1972, still the most “influential water improvement measure on the books.” “The water quality of the Cuyahoga River has improved dramatically since the late 1960s,” says Tinka Hyde, U.S. EPA Regional Water Division director. “More than 40 species of fish were found in the river in 2008, including steelhead trout, northern pike, and others. This shows how powerful a tool the Clean Water Act can be when the public, government, and industry are committed to restoring an important waterway.” Today the Cuyahoga River is one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in the United States and the centerpiece of Ohio’s only national park (the Cuyahoga Valley). It runs through beautiful rural burgs like Cuyahoga Falls and Kent, provides water access for rowing clubs, boaters and commerce.
Environments can be restored, but its expensive and better for everyone if they are not ruined in the first place. But the example of Cleveland shows that even seeming devestation can be restored eventually. There is always room for optimism in this world. — DS