October 2018 Notes from: WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY a land trust serving Greater Cleveland Our Cuyahoga River – 50 Years Later Join West Creek Conservancy in celebrating decades of progress For the better part of two conscious and the public’s centuries, water pollution attitude towards the pollu- and a lack of sewer and XTINGUISH tion on the river was turn- waste disposal regulation CELEBRATION ing from unavoidable to were viewed as necessary unacceptable. Cleveland’s byproducts of the wealth residents had been taking that industry brought to Xtinguish the Past action to combat the impact American cities. Cleveland Ignite the Future! industry had produced for was no exception. Lack of June 19-22, 2019 the Cuyahoga’s health prior environmental regulation to 1969, shown by the pas- resulted in the Cuyahoga Activities throughout 2019 sage of a $100 million bond River catching fire not just initiative in 1968 to fund once, but many times leading up to the infamous fire of river cleanup efforts, sewer system improvements, storm 1969. The first time the river caught fire was in 1868, fol- water overflow controls, and debris removal. The 1969 fire lowed by another 12 times in recorded history. The deadli- was not viewed as the climax of decades of pollution, but est incident was in 1912 with rather as “the last gasp of an five documented deaths, and industrial river whose role the worst blaze occurred in was beginning to change.” 1952, resulting in $1.3 mil- Regardless of the pro-en- lion in damages as well as vironmental actions prior the iconic photos which to the 1969 fire, Cleveland ended up in Time Magazine became the symbol that following the 1969 fire. showed the world there was The fire which burned on a need for change. Time’s June 22nd, 1969 at 12pm article and Cleveland Mayor was not the worst Cleveland Carl Stokes’s press coverage had seen in terms of physi- welcomed massive attention cal damage, but was one of and increased pressure on the most catalytic moments the region to strengthen in the environmental move- hygienic regulation. The cov- ment. In the 1960s, the erage served as a reminder United States was becom- The Cuyahoga River on fire near downtown ing more environmentally Cleveland on June 25th, 1952 continued on page 2 The mission of West Creek Conservancy is to enrich the lives of people in Greater Cleveland by conserving natural habitats, restoring the ecological value and sustainability of urban lands, and expanding neighborhood opportunities to experience nature. 1 October 2018 Xtinguish, continued from page 1 Fast forward to present day: the river has not ignited since the fire of 1969. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has invested billions of dol- lars towards river purification and the development of new sewer systems. Their current effort, Project Clean Lake, is a $3.4 billion effort slated for completion in 2036. The river is now clean enough that businesses and investors have been able to help revitalize a previously disregarded Flats landscape into an entertainment district. The 1969 Cuyahoga River fire serves as a reminder of how far Cleveland has come to reclaim its natural pros- perity, and the ongoing importance of Cuyahoga Falls the work being done to restore, pro- tect, and reclaim our land and water- of how bad things had been and how helped establish the Environmental ways. A real world natural testament much work still had to be done to Protection Agency (EPA) in order to the improved health of our river address pollution issues across the to manage environmental risks and lies below the water, in its resident nation caused by the industrial boom regulate sanitation policies. One of population. In 1969, between Akron and minimal regulation. the first pieces of legislation enacted and Cleveland, there were nearly no Although the news made Cleveland a by the EPA was the Clean Water Act fish due to the toxic state of the river. symbol of environmental health com- (1972), this charge led by Mayor Carl Today, there are over 60 fish species, plications, it catalyzed action on behalf Stoke’s brother Congressman Louis increased bird, animal, and plant bio- of Congress to resolve the issue of pol- Stokes, which mandated that all riv- diversity, and water clean enough to lution throughout the United States. ers in the United States be hygienic recreate on. enough to allow mass amounts of On January 1st, 1970, the legislature In June 2019, in commemoration of swimmers and fish to exist safely passed the National Environmental the 50th anniversary of the 1969 fire, within the water by 1983. Policy Act (NEPA) which also West Creek Conservancy will host the “Xtinguish Celebration.” The multi- day event will bring citizens together The 1969 Cuyahoga River fire serves as a in recognition and celebration of our reminder of how far Cleveland has come to shared waterway. As the anniversary draws near, regional collaboration reclaim its natural prosperity, and the continual and excitement is building. Over 80 organizations are already involved. importance of the work being done to restore, Highlighting the celebration will be the Xtinguish Torch Fest - which protect, and reclaim our land and waterways. will include a “Passing of the Torch” 2 October 2018 down the entire 100 miles of the Cuyahoga River from and economic benefits of recreation and industrial uses of Geauga County, through Akron, and into Cleveland. A the river. At selected locations a commemorative Eternal series of community dialogues called the “Crooked River Flame Sculpture will be installed on the river bank to sym- Conversations” is also being organized across the water- bolize the river’s connection to our region and to us. shed to showcase strategies to further improve our river Along with the Passing of the Torch, Xtinguish Torch Fest, and engage our citizens. and Eternal Flame Sculpture dedications, the Xtinguish The Xtinguish Celebration starts June 19th with a Native Celebration is tied to the designation of the Cuyahoga American Water Blessing and ends June 22nd with a cel- River as an Ohio Division of Natural Resources Water ebration at the site of the fire, hosted with partner Share Trail. A Water Trail Committee has been working dili- the River. The Celebration seeks to present all parts of our gently to finalize the designation in time for the Xtinguish Cuyahoga River from its headwaters in Geauga County, Torch Fest. To learn more and get involved with this through Kent, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Valley remarkable event, please contact Peter Bode at peter@west- National Park, and Cleveland. Along the way, festivals creek.org or 216-749-3720 ext. 13. of art, culture, and music will showcase the stewardship Blazing Paddles 2018 3 October 2018 Irishtown Bend By LAND Studio, Proud Conservancy Partner Despite its looming obscu- would effectively put a rity, Irishtown Bend Park tourniquet on the ship- may become one of the ping channel that sup- region’s most breathtak- ports 20,000 local jobs ing green spaces when and $3.5 billion worth it is finally built. With of economic activity. dramatic vistas, various Fortunately, this prob- regional trail connections, lem was not lost on the historical tragedy and mag- Port of Cleveland. About nificence as the once-burn- five years ago, the Port ing river and the landing took a leadership role by point for thousands of committing the funds to immigrants, as well as its thoroughly analyze the adjacency to Cleveland’s structural integrity of most diverse neighbor- the hillside. With a 300+ hood, Irishtown Bend will page report in hand, the be a place that people will region was given a full visit and enjoy for a multi- diagnosis as well as a tude of reasons. Irishtown pathway forward to fix- Bend Park will be a place ing the hillside’s stability locals and international issues. Identifying the guests will visit to experience the best of Cleveland. problem, in this case, is not half the battle. The heavy lift- Although it is easy to gush about Irishtown Bend’s future ing to fix the hillside entails several multi-million dollar marvels, the uncomfortable truth is that it will not be easy public expenditures that each fall under the jurisdiction to pull off. Right now, Irishtown Bend is an area full of of different political subdivisions or agencies. That means complex land, infrastructure and environmental issues. that advocates will need will need to coordinate on the It is a 17-acre version of a structural engineer’s nightmare highest level in order to leverage the funds from local, that has been long overgrown by invasive species, and state, federal and private resources. degraded by constant drainage problems to the extent The Port’s study not only accomplished the necessary that the hillside has become unstable and even slumping engineering data to move forward, but it also set a in certain section forcing the closure of Riverbed Road regional example by stepping up to address a problem and installations of back-up/above ground sewer lines. that was not necessarily theirs to fix. The study results Woozy and weakened by a strong cocktail of mis-engi- and their proactive approach set the stage for other a neered projects and long-ignored infrastructure needs, collaborative approach to the problem. Soon after, the the project brings with it a $50 million-plus list of struc- Mayor of Cleveland organized monthly meetings that tural fixes to bring it back to health. brought together the various entities responsible for Though currently an eyesore, it is not a superficial prob- the different fixes as well as other interested non-profit lem that this region can hide beneath a hill full of Japanese organizations who saw the potential that a collective and knotweed.