The Return of the Cuyahoga

BLACK WATERS and THE RETURN OF THE CUYAHOGA are stories of ecological nightmare wrought by humans on two rivers thousands of miles apart. BLACK WATERS is a short film that dramatically portrays the Ganges River, traditional giver of life, as a modern sump hole of industrial and human waste. Home to countless tanneries that spew deadly metals (such as chromium) unchecked into the washing and drinking water of millions of people, the Ganges today is a man-made catastrophe. Fortunately, there are dedicated people working on a grass-roots level who are trying to make a difference. THE RETURN OF THE CUYAHOGA traces the development of Cleveland from its exalted position in the early part of the 20th century as the “Silicon Valley of the industrial era” to the fateful day of June 22, 1969 when debris on the river actually caught fire. Serving as a symbol of decay of American cities in general, the event ignited grassroots ecological action across America. The film emphasizes mayor Carl Stokes's importance in putting political pressure on Washington, which led to the Clean Water Act of 1972. Now a trailblazer in restoring fisheries, the Ohio EPA (with the help of concerned citizens) is seeing a real difference in the life of the river. –BB