The Cuyahoga River became internationally famous for pollution as an industrial river flowing through Akron and Cleveland, but it has since become a symbol of what people can achieve together for clean water. In 1969, oil and debris in the river caught fire in an industrial area of Cleveland north of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the last in a series of fires over the previous 100 years, and the fire sparked local and federal action to protect clean water. Today the river is a water trail and the centerpiece of a national park, communities and other partners are turning neglected waterfront into vibrant places to relax and play, and improving water quality has brought back wildlife that had been rare or absent for a century or more, including bald eagles, beavers, and river otters. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is also improving stewardship of the river through projects such as the Boston Sanitary Wetland, built in 2010 to replace failing septic systems, treat wastewater from park buildings, and provide habitat.
