Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act! We’re done right? Uhhh, not so fast…
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Today Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River rightly finds itself at the center of a national public celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. U.S. EPA has invited the public to join them for the livestream of the event at Merwin’s Wharf at 10 a.m. this morning. Today’s ceremony follows on the heels of a proclamation President Joe Biden made yesterday declaring today, October 18, 2022 as the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
Journalists will no doubt share MANY images from the “bad ol’ days” illustrating how far Cleveland’s river has come since polluted rivers across the Rust Belt were once considered perverse signs of a region’s economic prosperity. And yes, there is still work to do with the Clean Water Act provisions under assault, western Lake Erie basin under continued stress from agricultural runoff and the rise of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and the increase of PFAS (a class of chemicals that are used to make products water-, grease- and stain-resistant) in wastewater treatment byproducts. Add in the evolution of a man-made invasive species - microplastics, and we’re reminded how much important work still lays ahead.
Yet, we’re proud and grateful for the support of so many who have helped make our annual Blazing Paddles Paddlefest Greater Cleveland’s biggest public celebration and photo-op of its hard-working, historic, and scenic comeback Cuyahoga River. Hundred of kayaks, paddleboards and canoes having a great time on the body of water that was the poster-child for environmental ruin is a tangible sign of how insurmountable the challenge may be, progress can be made, day by day, to provide swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for our communities!
Common sense environmental regulations and LARGE taxpayer investments in substantial EPA remediation of the Cuyahoga River and its watershed.
Large investments in stormwater infrastructure by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (and its ratepayers).
Our financial sponsors who make our vision for a fun, safe, and engaging morning on the Cuyahoga River a reality!
Cuyahoga River Safety Task Force Members and our organizational partners like Argonaut, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Burning River Adventures, North Coast Multisports, Cleveland Metroparks, and Cleveland Rowing Foundation.
Our AMAZING paddlers who this year traveled from 15 states to be part of Blazing Paddles Paddlefest. Without you, our powerful, narrative-changing photo-op for the revitalized Cuyahoga River would simply not be possible!
For an example of the ecological progress that’s been made in the Cuyahoga River, take a look at this graph showing the cumulative number of fish species collected by NEORSD!
Will today’s celebration include updates on the status of the Gorge Dam removal? Tune in and find out. And we’ll see you on Friday and Saturday, July 21-22 at our 5th Annual Blazing Paddles Paddlefest!