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Lecture 7: Burning rivers-Revival of four urban/industrial rivers that…
Lecture 7: Burning rivers-Revival of four urban/industrial rivers that caught on fire
The great lakes: 1/5th of the standing freshwater on the earth's surface, powered economic growth
Four river fires
Buffalo river fire: Jan 24 1968
Workmans torch ignited fire
5500kg of oil discharged daily
Cold winter day
Cuyahoga river fire: Jun 22 1969
Wooden debris and substatial oil pollution
sparks from passing train ignited fire
fire lasted 30 mins with $50000 damage to bridges
Rouge River fire: Oct 9 1969
Sparks from an acetylene torch ignited oil and wooden debris
Flames shot 50 ft in the air
10 peices of DFD equipment and 65 men fought the fire
Chicago river fires 1871, 1888
A lighted cigar dropped in the river in 1899
Had to be extinguished by fire boats and land engines
Revivals
Revival of the buffalo river: Queen city of lakes
Industrial and municipal expansion
Raising awareness of river pollution
Buffalo river cleanup
Since 2012 Substantial efforts under great lakes restoration initiative and great lakes legacy act
CLeanup leads to community realisation
Buffalo River Revival
Peregrine Falcon demise
DDT caused eggshell thinning
1950s population decimated
Peregrine Falcon Recovery
Revival of Cuyahoga river
1st tipping point - over exploitation of beaver during the fur trade era
Cleveland's early transportation
Revival of the cuyahoga river
In 1969 very few fish, now over 70 species
Flats revitalization
2nd tipping point: waterborne disease epidemics (1800s- early 1900s)
Industrial development
3rd tipping point: Time magazine's article
Pollution of lake erie and the cuyahoga
Activist David Blaushild raised awareness
Revival of the rouge river
Rouge watershed
23% impervious space
1st tipping point: over exploitation of the beaver during the trade era
Rouge river revival
Led to improved water sediment and biological quality
Winter stonefly search
Restrictions of fish consumption
Friends of the rouge
2nd tipping point:waterborne disease epidemics
Industrial development at lower end
Ship building eagle boats
3rd tipping point-oil pollution
In 1946-1948 5.9 million gallons of oil and other petroleum dumped into the rouge and detroit rivers
RIver fire 1969
Rouge becomes health hazard
All lower river became anerobic
4th tipping point: 1985 man dies of leptospirosis (rat fever)
Ban of human contact with river
48 communities join forces to clean up the river
Revival of the Chicago river
1st tipping point: over exploitation of beaver during the fur trade
2nd tipping point: disease epidemics
Citizens spoke out
Chicago River revival
Elimination of waterborne disease epidemics in the early 1900s
Chicago river constructed for navigation and water reclamation not habitat
Major concern for Asian Carp and keeping them out of the great lakes
3rd tipping point: the great chicago fire of 1871
Chicago ship and sanitary canal
More work to be done: Although much has been accomplished in the revival of the four rivers, much needs to be done to restore their physical, chemical and biological integrity
What are the major accomplishments of public outcry over pollution in the 1960s?
Canada water act and US national environmental policy act of 1970
Critical elements for success
see slides 38, 39
Lessons learned
see slide 40
River cleanup is helping revitalize rust belt communities
see slide 40
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