Before and After: Transformations of Rivers and Lakes

Chosen Theme: Before and After: Transformations of Rivers and Lakes. Journey through striking contrasts—polluted channels reborn as blueways, shrunken lakes stitched back by community care—and see how people, wildlife, and memory reshape water’s future. Share your shoreline story in the comments and subscribe for fresh before-and-after features.

Then and Now: Iconic Waterways Reimagined

Declared biologically dead in the mid-twentieth century, the Thames has since welcomed seals, seahorses, and returning migratory fish thanks to cleaner wastewater, vigilant monitoring, and citizen cleanups. Tell us how your city’s river has changed within your lifetime—what’s your most vivid before-and-after memory?

Then and Now: Iconic Waterways Reimagined

A 1969 fire helped ignite modern environmental protections, transforming the Cuyahoga from a symbol of neglect into a river celebrated by paddlers, herons, and waterfront festivals. If your family remembers the smoke, share a snapshot of today’s river life that would surprise your grandparents.

People at the Water’s Edge

A buried stream returned after a highway was removed, cooling the urban core and inviting birds, art, and evening walks. Street vendors worried, then adapted to new foot traffic. Would daylighting a culvert near you spark similar changes? Tell us what you hope to see.

People at the Water’s Edge

Instead of higher levees, communities moved them back, carved side channels, and restored floodplains. Fields become seasonal wetlands; cyclists share space with waders. If your town faced floods, would you trade a bit of land for peace of mind and thriving habitats?

Ecology’s Before-and-After

Elwha and Penobscot removals reopened miles of habitat, sending salmon, lamprey, and nutrients upstream while sediment rebuilt beaches downstream. Tribal stories, science, and community hopes converged. Which barrier in your watershed deserves a second look—and a future without concrete?

Ecology’s Before-and-After

Where floodplains breathe again, herons, spoonbills, and amphibians chorus back. Reconnected side channels filter water and store floods like living sponges. Share the first call you heard after a restoration—what species announced the beginning of your river’s new chapter?

Document a Repeat-Photo Series

Pick one vantage point and return monthly. Geotag, note water level, and frame consistently. Share your pairs with our community hashtag so we can publish reader before-and-after mosaics that inspire neighbors to care.

Join a Stewardship Crew

Volunteer for shoreline cleanups, macroinvertebrate sampling, or Secchi disk readings. These simple acts build powerful data and friendships. Subscribe for local event roundups and printable guides tailored to rivers and lakes near you.

Speak Up for Smart Water Design

Champion rain gardens, green roofs, and floodplain reconnections. Support fish passage where appropriate and protect headwaters from encroachment. Comment on plans, vote for clean water, and invite a friend to read and respond to this post today.