The Grand River of my early youth was nothing like it is now. For the greater part I would say that its health and beauty have greatly improved. There was a time when the river was a polluted vein of ugly water that ran through our town carrying sewage and agricultural runoff from lands and settlements along the way.
To eat fish from the Grand was unthinkable, there were so many phosphates in the water that huge amounts of grey brown foam would form on the surface of the churning waters below the Park Hill dam. On very windy days this awful stuff could be seen blowing around on the streets nearby.
The story of my river is to me a reminder that not all things get worse. If you care about and care for something it can be made better, decay is not always inevitable.
When I was a boy you never saw the graceful heron stalking small fish in the shallows at the rivers edge. Today their numbers high, to see them is common, though they are less rare, to see them is still a delight.
5 comments:
When I grew up in Ontario we had a river like that too...the Thames. I remember how yucky & brown & smelly it was....I hope they improved it like they did yours. I love seeing herons...we see them once in a while here.
beautiful photo to illustrate a very good lesson. i'm so glad you reminded me that not all things get worse. i knew this, but it's easy to focus on the negative change and miss the positive.
there are so many cranes and herons around here this year. maybe there always were, but i've been noticing them more. i've got a few shots of some at a preserve near by. i'll have to dig those out.
I remember, as a child, having to plug my nose whenever we crossed the Main Street bridge. Even from the car, the stink of the river was apparent.
I love the Grand River and I'm glad it's alive and apparently well. A beautiful photo, Peter, and a wonderful sentiment; decay is not always inevitable.
Ah! The joy of KNOWING we CAN make a difference if we apply ourselves and act. Thank you for this breath of fresh air.
So glad to hear your story, to see that some things are improving. I just recently discovered the grand river this year, and it is beautiful!
Post a Comment