In order to understand how to change a waterway in the future we first must understand its past and present. Our group has considered the following:
As most major rivers in the United States, the Ohio has contributed significantly to the development of its surrounding cities. Today, according to ORSANCO (Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission) nearly 10% of the U.S. population lives within the Ohio River basin. Moreover, the creation of large port cities such as Cincinnati, Louisville, and Pittsburgh stemmed from the monetary aspects of the river – in respect to trade and transport – and allowed populations to flourish. While the industrialization of cities through the utilization of rivers is undoubtedly important to the culture of modern citizens, it is important to delve deeper.
The Ohio has had a distinct impact on all inhabitants through the actions of their ancestors. Concrete evidence need not be cited to display the above. Towns were formed and family trees rooted because of our contemporaries river travel. Aside from the broad implications of the aforementioned, one can note a distinct cultural aspect of the Ohio River as a boundary in the 1800s. More specifically, it was a boundary between slave states and free states in a divided America. This was increasingly observable between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, where many used the narrowness of the Ohio to cross into freedom. Likewise, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located in Cincinnati and serves as a beacon to the Oho River’s importance in victims of enslavement reaching freedom.
cultural...
The major sources of nonpoint pollution in the Ohio, according to ORSANCO, stem from urban runoff, agricultural processes, and mines. Likewise, the first two class field trips readily illuminate the previous position. Effects of urban runoff were heavily present in Bear Grass Creek, a tributary to the Ohio, and undoubtedly make their way into the parent stream. Even in regards to the Ohio alone urban runoff can we witnessed based on the shear volume of impervious surfaces – which is true for most major rivers.
In addition, the CSO (combined sewer over) problem, in Louisville and other cities, has heightened problems stemming from urban runoff and agricultural chemicals in the Ohio. Basically, in times of high rainfall, this just allows more pollutant tainted rainwater and sewage to flow openly into the Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the two major bacterial threats to the river are fecal coliform and E. Coli. Information regarding the current levels of these bacteria are readily available online through ORSANCO. More specifically, at the end of August, in Wheeling, Wv, fecal coliform were recorded at 11,400/100mL and E. Coli levels were 4,900/mL. These two numbers greatly exceed desired levels and are dangerously high. At the beginning of September levels have began to taper off but are destined to return to above desired levels.
In today’s modern societal landscape citizens are riddled with pressures of economic stature - creating a majority of the above environmental pressures on the Ohio River. Which can be developed almost solely from the strains urbanization puts on the river. Also, ORSANCO states that Over 230 million tons of cargo is transported on the Ohio River each year. More specifically, Coal and other energy products account for 70 percent of the commerce on barges. Which can partially account for the pollution stemming from mine runoff and, similarly, forest degradation. Another question our group wishes to investigate is how the growing prevalence of barges on the Ohio River contribute to the rivers overall degradation and lack of appeal? Quite simply, the Ohio River Valley has a love/hate relationship with coal. In which a great majority love the money and ease associated with its use as an energy product, and an unsung few are left to hate the environmental pressures it puts on the river system.
water quality & environmental pressures...
geographic & natural history...
Ironically, the Ohio River doesn’t form in the state responsible for its namesake. In fact, it neither forms nor ends in Ohio. The confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania forms the river. As is widely known the Ohio River is the main tributary to the Mississippi River - its termination being in Cairo Illinois (Banta). This allows one to gather a sense of the magnitude of the Mississippi in comparison to all other rivers in the United States. Especially when noting that according to the Army Corps of Engineers the Ohio itself stretches 981 miles.
While the common observer may know some of the aforementioned facts, its fair to say a vast majority isn’t aware of how long the river itself has been around. Naturally, living in a realm of burgeoning technology and rapid advancement, citizens today tend to only see what’s immediately in front of them – or what the future may bring. Likewise, it seems important to at least mention that the river – and its surrounding valley – is but 10,000 years old (Banta). Which, in comparison to some rivers around the globe – that date back to 350 million years ago - is quite young.
What did the Ohio River look like when it originated, or even 300 years ago, in Louisville, KY? These are interesting questions that our group wants to implement into the evaluation of the rivers current geographic status. Exact answers may not be ascertained, but one can be quite certain it didn’t look like it does today. Most readily, the effects of the human influence, such as the McAlpine locks and dam – as discussed in class – are responsible for the river’s widening. One may even note a possible correlation between the McAlpine’s location and the Ohio River’s widest point – right here in Louisville. Could the high level of commerce demanded by the current economy be conducted on the river without hydroelectric advancements and damming? Certainly not in any practical sense, but the former has certainly contributed to the river’s ongoing natural and geographic evolution.
