CLEVELAND, Ohio – To celebrate 50 years of environmental resurgence, the Cuyahoga River has been named “River of the Year” by American Rivers.

The Washington D.C.-based conservation organization works to protect wild rivers, restore damage rivers and advocate for clean water.

For more than 30 years, the organization annually has named 10 endangered rivers, including this year Big Darby Creek in Columbus.

The Cuyahoga has never been named to the endangered list. But it’s being honored for its role in sparking the modern environmental movement after the 1969 fire.

“May other cities draw inspiration from Cleveand’s story, and may we all work together to spark an urban river renaissance nationwide,” American Rivers President Bob Irvin. “Because everyone in our country deserves clean water and a healthy river."

More than 300 Northeast Ohio organizations are planning events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the June 22 fire and the transformation of the river from an open sewer to an active fishery and watersports playground.

More than 60 fish species thrive in the river, which hosts kayakers, stand-up paddleboards and oodles of rowers from April through November.

Irvin said the clean-up has revitalized Cleveland, and he hopes it inspires Americans across the country.

“When we’re smart enough to stop polluting river or stop diverting a river or take down dams, … rivers can come back to life and they can do that amazingly quickly,” Irvin said.

Big Darby Creek is listed on the group’s endangered rivers list because of proposals to develop thousands of acres of farmland around the national scenic river.

“The zone would literally straddle Big Darby Creek and critically imperil the health of the river,” says American Rivers.

Said Irvin: “It’s an amazingly important stream for city of Columbus.”

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