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The Cuyahoga River: 50 Years After the Infamous Fire


Dr. John Hartig discusses how strategies like pollution mitigation and habitat rehabilitation are reviving this iconic river.

In 1969, when the Cuyahoga River last caught fire, the river's fish community was critically depleted. Today, it is home to 70 species of fish, and peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and osprey have returned to its banks. The Cuyahoga River's revival has transformed the Cleveland Flats from an industrial wasteland into a community where nature, commerce, and industry thrive together.

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