Prompt Entry #5: The Wound in the Emerald City

Before arriving in Syracuse, I met a man from the city. I remember him praising the family-friendly environment and state parks. He only stopped praising the city once; he paused and  informed me Syracuse has one of the most polluted lakes in the nation.

Shortly after arriving in Syracuse, I visited Onondaga Lake. Two walking trails led around the lake's edge. Joggers stretched in the shady patches of grass. Bicyclists steered around solo walkers with their dogs. A fuzzy, yellow caterpillar inched its way along the sidewalk. The activity was all on the land. Nobody was swimming. Nobody dipped their toes in the water. I suddenly remembered the man's remark concerning the polluted lake. I looked into the murky water and wondered what harm had been inflicted. Syracuse had struck me with its greenery and state parks, but this lake had been betrayed and damaged. Would it ever be clean again?

Discharged waste material from Allied Chemical Company was a large contributing factor to the pollution. Between 1946 and 1970, an estimated 165,000 pounds of mercury were dumped into the waters. Sewage overflows bled into the lake. Nonpoint pollution, which comes from a variety of sources, such as street litter and the failure to properly rid of household wastes, has also been a problem. Fishing was banned for awhile due to the mercury levels found in the animals; now it is currently recommended that catch-and-release fishing is performed at the lake. Fishing guidelines can be found here.

While clean-up projects are underway, the waste material continues to damage the lake and wildlife. Every Syracuse citizen I have met knows about the lake's pollution. People want to save the lake. Honeywell International Inc. is working on restoring the lake by ridding of the contaminated sediments on the lake's bottom. Onondaga Lake Partnership, a group devoted to restoring the lake, encourages individuals to conserve water, reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, pick up trash, and rid of household hazardous materials. Because of the severity of the situation, I think people are willing to do their part. The lake's story is a scar on the city's reputation.

Syracuse doesn't want that scar. I have been surprised by the city's attempts to embrace an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Syracuse's main mall, Carousel Center, advertises its use of clean, renewable energy sources through Destiny USA. Syracuse longs to be known as the Emerald City. This article from 2009 discusses Syracuse's efforts to embrace their nickname and aid the environment.

I plan on returning to Onondaga Lake soon. I'll sit on a park bench and look out over the damaged lake waters. The damage lingers, but there is hope. This is a place that longs to be known as the Emerald City for their environmental efforts. This is a city that informs its people of the disaster at Onondaga Lake. It's a destructive slice of history, but there are large efforts going into place to cure the lake.

This winter, a population of bald eagles returned to Onondaga Lake. I believe this is the third year they have been seen at the lake. I feel hope. The eagles are returning to the lake. The fish are multiplying. The animals are visible signs of healing. I hope the city continues to work towards a cure. I hope the city can heal the wound they created. I hope the wound continues to disrupt the city enough to remember how precious the environment is. I hope one day the water is cured. I hope the city never stops fighting to protect the land. Onondaga Lake cannot be forgotten.



http://www.onlakepartners.org/index.htm