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Traces the development of Cleveland from its exalted position in the early part of the 20th century as the “Silicon Valley of the industrial era” to the fateful day of June 22, 1969 when debris on the river actually caught fire. Serving as a symbol of decay of American cities in general, the event ignited grassroots ecological action across America.

The film emphasizes Mayor Carl Stokes’s importance in putting political pressure on Washington, which led to the Clean Water Act of 1972. Now a trailblazer in restoring fisheries, the Ohio EPA (with the help of concerned citizens) is seeing a real difference in the life of the river.