In the Watershed - BookWyrm

Paperback, 152 pages

English language

Published Dec. 26, 2017 by Belt Publishing.

ISBN:: 978-0-9989041-0-8

(1 review)

For several years, Ryan Schnurr watched media coverage of Lake Erie algae blooms with a growing sense of unease. An Indiana native, he wanted to learn more about role of the Maumee River in the lake’s environmental woes: the Maumee is Lake Erie’s largest tributary and the center of the largest watershed in the region, spanning more than 6,600 square miles of land.

So in the summer of 2016, Schnurr walked and canoed the length of the river from its headwaters in Fort Wayne, Indiana to its mouth in Toledo, Ohio. In The Watershed: A Journey Down the Maumee River is the story of that voyage. As he walks the banks, Schnurr tells us the history of the river, from its formation by glaciers, function in Native American and American history, uses by industry, and role in current economic and environmental issues.

Part cultural history, part nature writing, and part …

For several years, Ryan Schnurr watched media coverage of Lake Erie algae blooms with a growing sense of unease. An Indiana native, he wanted to learn more about role of the Maumee River in the lake’s environmental woes: the Maumee is Lake Erie’s largest tributary and the center of the largest watershed in the region, spanning more than 6,600 square miles of land.

So in the summer of 2016, Schnurr walked and canoed the length of the river from its headwaters in Fort Wayne, Indiana to its mouth in Toledo, Ohio. In The Watershed: A Journey Down the Maumee River is the story of that voyage. As he walks the banks, Schnurr tells us the history of the river, from its formation by glaciers, function in Native American and American history, uses by industry, and role in current economic and environmental issues.

Part cultural history, part nature writing, and part narrative, In the Watershed is a lyrical work of non-fiction in the vein of John McPhee and Ian Frazier with a timely and important warning at the core. “What is happening in Lake Erie,” Schnurr tells us, “is a disaster by nearly any measure—ecologically, economically, socially, culturally.”

1 edition

christa reviewed In the Watershed by Ryan Schnurr

extreeeeemely niche book that may have been written just for me

5 stars

the maumee river spans from fort wayne, indiana, to toledo, ohio, where it joins lake erie. between, it snakes through small towns and farmland. the maumee also more or less exactly covers the area where I lived my life until 18.

in this book, the author decides to walk the river (or as close as he can get, hello private land) from start to finish. while he does, he tells the story of the region as it is defined by this watershed, starting with its native peoples who were forced off the land, to the draining of the great black swamp, to more modern problems caused by that draining and industrialized agriculture. all of this is near to my heart and of deep interest—I have a haunting curiosity about home, and an ache that I feel like I never have enough facts about it (one of the many reasons I …

the maumee river spans from fort wayne, indiana, to toledo, ohio, where it joins lake erie. between, it snakes through small towns and farmland. the maumee also more or less exactly covers the area where I lived my life until 18.

in this book, the author decides to walk the river (or as close as he can get, hello private land) from start to finish. while he does, he tells the story of the region as it is defined by this watershed, starting with its native peoples who were forced off the land, to the draining of the great black swamp, to more modern problems caused by that draining and industrialized agriculture. all of this is near to my heart and of deep interest—I have a haunting curiosity about home, and an ache that I feel like I never have enough facts about it (one of the many reasons I did my college thesis about it, and bake in extra time to wander to every family visit). this is a history and tale of modern ecology that speaks to both. why are there native names for schools and towns but no native peoples (bad treaties and removal)? why was my town called lima (from malaria medicine from lima peru; mosquitos were rampant in the swamp)? why does the farm land flood so regularly (lack of natural wetland)? why do algae blooms spring up near annually, preventing my grandpa from walking around the lake (agricultural runoff)? what's that green scum on the canal by my mom's house (algae bloom, but also did you know canals were only used a few years, then trains came)? anyway, all this is to say: this book was deeply satisfying to me.

I have no idea if it's interesting at all to someone who doesn't know this small area of northwestern ohio, but I'd say if the description of the book intrigues you then you should pick it up! belt publishing at its best

Subjects

Water, pollution
Indiana, description and travel
Ohio, description and travel
Erie, lake