Cuyahoga Valley Self-Guided Field Trip: Activity 3

This activity is one of four parts of a self-guided field trip developed by Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Tan Truong in 2020. Visit the field trip page for more information.

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The Station Road Bridge crosses over the Cuyahoga River in Brecksville.

NPS / Tim Fenner

Teachers and chaperones can use the discussion guide to facilitate conversations with students about the Cuyahoga River serving as an icon for the environmental movement. Students will complete pages 10 and 11 from the Junior Ranger Handbook.

Location

Start at Station Road Bridge Trailhead. Carefully make your way over to the Station Road Bridge. This is a shared trail meaning bicycles, hikers, and horses travel along it.

Materials

• Junior Ranger Handbook

Discussion Guide

Goal

Students will have a better understanding of how the Cuyahoga River serves as an icon of the environmental movement.

Objective

Students will be able to explain why the health of the Cuyahoga River is important, and how community members were involved with the river’s renewal.

Duration

15 minutes

Introduction

The Cuyahoga River is an example of why having a healthy river is important. Refer to the display sign on the bridge that shows the course of the Cuyahoga River. Share and show students the display sign stating: "The Cuyahoga River changes direction in its 100-mile course. It flows southwest until Akron. There, it turns north and empties into Lake Erie."

Questions to Ask

• What do you think of when you think of a healthy, clean river?
• What does a healthy river look like, sound like, smell like?
• What is one reason why it is important to have a healthy river?

Activity: A Healthy River

• Have students turn to page 10 of the Junior Ranger Handbook.
• Ask a volunteer to read the information in the box at the bottom of page 10. "Cuyahoga Valley National Park got its name from the Cuyahoga River, which flows through the park. Healthy rivers give us clean drinking water, safe places to play, and great habitat for wildlife."
• Have students share some of the good things that belong in a healthy river (list of things on the bottom of page 10).

Activity: A Changed River

• Have students turn to page 10 of the Junior Ranger Handbook. Share with students that the Cuyahoga River now is different than what it used to be.
• Have a student volunteer to read the "Did You Know" box on page 10 in the Junior Ranger Handbook: "The Cuyahoga River caught fire at least 13 times. The most famous fire happened in Cleveland in 1969. The river was so polluted that a flare ignited floating oil and debris. Our nation was horrified. This fire helped inspire Earth Day and new environmental protection laws like the Clean Water Act."

Questions to Ask

Share with students that in the summer of 2020, the Brecksville Dam was removed from the Cuyahoga River at this location.

• Can someone share why we build dams? (to store water, generate electricity)
• How does building a dam in a river affect the water? (stops water from flowing)
• Why would humans want to stop river water from flowing? (water diversion for a canal, hydroelectric power, etc.)
• How might building a dam impact the health of the river? (fish habitats are impacted, build-up of sediment, fish can't move freely along the river)

Explanation

• Fish tell us the Cuyahoga River is getting healthier.

• Fish are coming back due to improved water quality and removal of dams that block movement.

• Restoring natural flow improves the river bottom habitat for insects and other small animals.

• This means more food for fish and more fish for eagles, herons, otters, and people.

Activity: The Good and The Bad

Have students work on page 11 of the Junior Ranger Handbook, writing down their observations of what they see that is good and bad for the Cuyahoga River.

Sources

• A Guide to Cuyahoga Valley National Park Brochure
• Junior Ranger Handbook

Continue the Field Trip

Explore the rest of the activities that make up this self-guided field trip:

• Activity 1: The National Park Service

• Activity 2: Crucial Transportation Link and Lived-In Valley

• Activity 4: Refuge for Natural Diversity