AOC

When I strated at the National Wildlife Federation, people would talk about AOC's – and I was a bit lost, since the only AOC I knew was the esteemed Congresswoman from Queens - and I knew they were not talking about her! Well, I have since learned that AOC's in enviro speak are Areas of Concern - 43 areas in the Great Lakes where the US and Canada have determined that there is a need for a comprehensive cleanup and restoration effort. One of those areas is the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, which had been famous for catching fire. At this year's Healing our Waters Conference, we did a field trip along the Cyahoga, which very much remains a working River in an industrial city, but which also has extensive restoration efforts, recreation, fish, and a blue heron. These photos were all taken along the River in Cleveland on October 12, 2023.