There's no doubt dredging a river isn't the most glamorous of projects.
But in downtown Ashtabula, a 70 million dollar local and federally funded reclamation of the dirty and largely un-navigable river, is the economic boost leaders here say their city needs.
The dredging involved pumping 650 thousand cubic yards of sediment from the river and cleaning it because of contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls - or PCB's. That was caused by companies dumping untreated waste into the river years ago when the effects on the environment weren't fully appreciated.
Ashtabula River Partnership co-ordinator Rick Brewer says the passage of the Great Lakes Legacy Act, written by local congressional representatives, allowed the federal EPA to fund `half' the project, making the effort feasible.
BREWER: "We went after the PCB's, because we knew if we could get most of the PCB's out, that we would also get most of the heavy metals. So we've done that. Now what we're hoping is, as new sediment comes from upstream comes down and covers whatever is left, we would be able to conventionally dredge, and hopefully, open-lake dispose."
Both commerical and pleasure craft have been traversing the deeper river this month, indicating increased river-spawned business.
Tuesday's celebration of the dredging completion coincided with the dedication of the brand new, 80 foot high, covered bridge ...Said to be the largest in the United States.
The bridge is slated to open for pedestrians and traffic - this weekend and officials hope that will kick-start tourism in the region.
Rick Jackson
90.3.
