50 years ago the Cuyahoga River caught on fire. Take a second and think about what that actually means. Water was on fire because of how many chemicals resided in the river. Fast forward 50 years to present day and the river is now being used for recreational use. It’s come a long way to [...]
The river that burned now sparking with excitement
In 1969, sparks from a passing train set fire to oil-soaked debris floating on the Cuyahoga River. Fifty years later, what is now referred to as the Burning River will receive designation from the state of Ohio as a water trail to encourage recreation, conservation, and tourism. According to the National Water Trail System, water [...]
How the Cuyahoga River Went from Dangerous to Beneficial
The Cuyahoga River just passed its 50th anniversary of the fire that famously dubbed the waters as "The Burning River" on June 22, 1969. But in March of this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that fish from the Cuyahoga River were deemed safe to eat, despite decades of restrictions. How exactly did we [...]
The Ohio Erie Canalway, Towpath Trail undergoing changes
The Ohio Erie Canalway and Towpath Trail is a popular destination for many runners, cyclists, and kayakers in Northeast Ohio. The Towpath is a thriving environment that is constantly occupied during the summer/fall months. Many different community organizations have worked together to help reshape the Cuyahoga River ecosystem ever since the river burned for the [...]
The Cuyahoga River is Becoming More Recreational
In the late 1960s, industrial pollution and use of the Cuyahoga River had left the river toxic and recreation had virtually vanished. With the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, the river began to rejuvenate and recreational use began to balance with industrial use of the river. Matthew Fredmonsky with the Keelhaulers Canoe [...]
Mini Profile #1: Lou Elsaesser
Lou Elsaesser in front of the Cuyahoga River near Station Rd. Bridge. “I started doing volunteer work on a heavy basis when I retired 10 years ago. At that point, I got to use my degree in biology from when I graduated back in ’73. Most people thought when I was going to school that [...]
Everything you need to know about House Bill 6
House Bill 6 is making national headlines for not only its environmental policy changes but also its controversial corporate involvement. HB6 was signed into law on July 26 by Governor Mike DeWine, and had been branded as cost-cutting for ratepayers and friendly toward the environment by its proponents. And it would bailout two failing nuclear [...]
Why are evangelicals suspicious of climate change, and what is the cost of their skepticism?
When I was a part of conservative Christianity, enemies were everywhere. (Full disclosure: I’m not a Christian, but I was one – and kind of an intense one, to be honest – for 15 years.) LGBTQ people threatened traditional family values. NARAL and Planned Parenthood threatened the sanctity of life. Popular culture threatened our purity, [...]
Trump Administration Rolls Back Clean Water Protections
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/climate/trump-administration-rolls-back-clean-water-protections.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWater%20Pollution&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection Within the past week Trump announced a repeal on a water regulation put on by Obama during his term as president. The regulation put limits on polluting chemicals that could be used near streams and other bodies of water. By repealing this, Trump has lifted a load for farmers especially, making it so they [...]
Lake Erie Algae Bloom Threatens Fishing Communities in Maumee Watershed
"Lake Erie MODIS satellite Oct 2013" by NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory is licensed under CC PDM 1.0 A case study from the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) found evidence the 2019 Lake Erie Algae Bloom has spread to the Maumee River Watershed. As the shallowest Great Lake, Erie is also the warmest, providing a fertile breeding ground [...]
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