The Black River Comes Back: Lorain's Hard-Luck River Is Almost Off the Pollution List

Here's something worth smiling about: the Black River in Lorain, Ohio — once known for pollution that left fish with tumors and made them unsafe to eat — is now moving through the formal process to be removed from a federal list of polluted waterways. Spectrum News told the story of the river's revival in early October, and it's one of the best comeback stories in Ohio right now.

What happened

The Black River runs through Lorain County and empties into Lake Erie at the city of Lorain. The river was once known for the mighty ships built on its banks, and along with steel and coal, it was Lorain's lifeblood. That industry came at a cost. The Black River was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, with nine specific impairments identified in 1990 — the first of which wasn't removed until 2016.

The momentum this year has been remarkable. In July, the U.S. EPA approved removal of the river's final impairment, known as Degradation of Benthos — the last environmental milestone needed before the Black River can be officially delisted. Then, in early September, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, working with local, state, and federal partners, released the Draft Final Delisting Report for the Black River — an important step toward formally removing the Area of Concern designation. As one Ohio Lake Erie Commission administrator put it in the Spectrum piece: "Fish are thriving, wildlife and habitat around the river have been improved."

How they did it

This didn't happen by accident, and it didn't happen fast. Among the projects were the cleanup of a former industrial site and the building of 1.5 miles of fish shelves — underwater structures that provide habitat for insects and other small invertebrates that form the base of the river's food chain. Conditions in the river improved thanks to projects funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative along with other local, state, and federal investments. One by one, the impairments came off the list — the fish tumor designation itself was removed in October 2023 — until this year, there were none left.

Why it matters beyond Lorain

A river recovering is never just about the river. As the Black River moves closer to delisting, the City of Lorain and the surrounding area will continue to see the ecological benefits of a healthy environment — and likely the economic benefits that come with an accessible, healthy waterfront. For a Lake Erie steel town, that's a big deal: a river that generations were told to stay away from is becoming a reason to live there.

It's also a template. Ohio's waterways have been written off before — the Cuyahoga most famously — and they keep proving that patient, unglamorous work pays off. Nobody gets a parade for installing fish shelves. But forty years from now, kids in Lorain will fish a river their great-grandparents couldn't, and that's the kind of thing this state does quietly and well. It's the Ohio we had in mind when we made our Ohio collection — a place that doesn't quit on itself.

Go see it for yourself

You don't have to wait for the paperwork. The lower Black River is open now — paddle it, fish it, walk it through the Lorain County Metro Parks along its banks. If you want to mark the occasion, the Lorain County Conservation District says the last impairment is slated for removal, the delisting process can begin soon, and they're planning a celebration of the milestone on May 26, 2027. Put it on the calendar, bring the kayak, and wear your O-H Tee so the herons know whose side you're on.

Common questions

What is an "Area of Concern"?

It's an official designation by the U.S. EPA — a label that opened the door to funding and cleanup projects for badly degraded Great Lakes waterways. Coming off the list means the specific environmental damage that put a river there has been fixed.

When will the Black River officially be delisted?

The U.S. EPA will make the final decision on whether to delist the Black River as an Area of Concern, and that could happen by 2027.

Is it safe to fish the Black River now?

The impairment for restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption was removed back in October 2016, and the fish tumors impairment was removed in October 2023. As always, check current Ohio fish consumption advisories for specifics before you fill the cooler.

Reported by Spectrum News. Details as published at the time of writing.