Burning of the Cuyahoga River

By: Emily Gotschalk

Background: An oil slick caught fire Caused by pollution from decades

of industrial waste Near the Republic Steel Mill Caused ~ $100,000 worth of

damage to two railroad bridges

Threatened Factors:

Biotic: aquatic plant life, bugs, and fish

Abiotic: cadmium, chromium, and lead

Human Aspect: Water pollution was a necessary

consequence of the industry that had brought the city prosperity

1960s: environmentalism 1968: $100 million bond initiative to

fund the Cuyahoga's clean up Deindustrialization was decreasing

pollution problem

Aftermath: Cleveland became a symbol of

environmental degradation 1970: Cleveland State University

students celebrated the inaugural Earth Day by marching from campus to the river to protest pollution

1972: Clean Water Act

Following Years: Despite misunderstandings the fire

did help bring about positive change Water quality improved during the

following decades Business investors converted

abandoned industrial landscape into entertainment districts featuring restaurants, nightclubs, and music venues

Summary: Much of the industry that both made

Cleveland rich and caused its river to burn may never be coming back, but the people of Cleveland are meeting this challenge by reshaping their city to reflect its current reality.

Sources: Michael Rotman, “Cuyahoga River

Fire,” Cleveland Historical, accessed February 9, 2014, http:/ / clevelandhistorical. org/ items/ show/ 63.