River Files & the Creation of the Federal EPA

The Cuyahoga River caught fire 13 times over the course of 100 years.

Before the federal EPA was enacted in 1971 to enforce public protections, state EPAs were too often ineffective. The Cuyahoga River had caught fire from pollution 13 times over the course of 100 years. At times, pollution was palpable in the air and visible in the water. Animals were becoming endangered, people died in the river fires or from other pollution disasters, and corporations were largely unmonitored in their production and waste practices.

This drawing of the Cuyahogoa River and Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park tells the Story of the Creation of the Federal EPA. In the drawing, clouds represent smoke from the river fires and the flowing waterfall represents the voice of the people and a constant need for rethinking and renewing. This origin story drawing highlights the importance of protecting humans and the environment as population continued to surge and the industrial corporations that shepherded the epoch of our modern lifestyles polluted the air and water.

The Cuyahoga River & Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Karen Kopacz