Water heals itself when humans reduce pollutant inputs

Evidence

In just the last few years, the lake has offered signs of hope. As factories have closed and citizens of the watershed build better sewage treatment plants, the waters have responded to that care. The natural resilience of the lake is making its presence known in tiny increments of dissolved oxygen and returning fish. Hydrogeologists have redirected the energies of the mudboils so that their load is lightened. Engineers, scientists, and activists have all applied the gift of human ingenuity on behalf of the water. The water, too, has done its part. With lessened inputs, the lakes and streams seem to be cleaning themselves as the water moves through. In some places, plants are starting to inhabit the bottom. Trout were found once again in the lake and when water quality took an upward turn it was front-page news. A pair of eagles have been spotted on the north shore. The waters have not forgotten their responsibility. The waters are reminding the people that they can use their healing gifts when we will use ours. — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass, 1225

Categorization

• XREF: Pays off ch21 Keepers of Water and the active-reciprocity claims; useful for land-rights and stewardship legal arguments. — connects to: Removing human structures let the land remember being an estuary. — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom,…, 925; Water cannot refuse the corruption humans impose, but people still can choose otherwise — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom,…, 1153