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Cuyahoga River Fire and the Creation of EPA

Cuyahoga River Fire and the Creation of EPA

In 1969, the eyes of our nation were focused on outer space in preparation for sending a man to the moon.  Ironically, that same year, a burning river proved to be a stimulus for addressing what some called a collective indifference to the planet that sustains us.  On June 22^nd, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio caught fire because it was so polluted.  This was not the first time the river had burned and, in truth, the fire was put out in only 30 minutes.  However, this fire served as an important catalyst that was instrumental in the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and was a major factor in the creation of the Clean Water Act.

The news coverage of the fire on the Cuyahoga River was international and, when taken in context with the recently publicized, shameful state of pollution in Lake Erie, it raised the consciousness of the American people and rallied local, state, and federal politicians to take action.  America took a critical look at the steel mills and manufacturers who were dumping waste into our waterways despite previous legislation to control water pollution.  As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970 to enforce pollution laws and The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 to set limits on pollution.

While there is work to do in treating storm water and agricultural run-off, the Cuyahoga River is alive again.  Oxygen levels are up; pollution and bacteria levels are down.  The number of fish species has nearly doubled.  Warehouses that lined the portion of the Cuyahoga River adjacent to Lake Erie have been replaced by trendy shops, restaurants, and an active harbor.  In the end, the fire on the Cuyahoga River is no longer remembered only as an environmental nightmare, but as a seminal event in the reclamation and protection of our environment.