The Detroit River’s been one of the not-so-great waterways of the Great Lakes in recent decades, a contaminated cauldron of raw sewage, fertilizer runoff, oil pollution and chemicals from heavy industry. The pollution took a toll on the fishy and feathered residents of the river, with thousands of ducks and geese getting coated with oil and dying, and fish full of DDT and PCBs.

But a concerted effort to clean up the river proves that we can tackle pollution and make serious progress if we make it a priority. As John Harding, manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, told the Detroit Free Press, “We have one of the most dramatic ecological recoveries in North America.”

Thirty years ago, peregrine falcons and bald eagles wouldn’t be caught dead hanging out in the area; now, according to the Free Press, “bald eagles are nesting in seven locations along the river and 15 peregrines are seen often.” The fish population is rebounding, too, and “the refuge is said to be one of the three top hawk-spotting sites in the country.”

The Detroit River is still far from pristine; a recent study showed that “population growth, global warming, the loss of animal habitat, continued pollution and invasive species are still big problems.” But Hartig is confident that ongoing efforts to restore the river will be successful. And the wildlife refuge, which has expanded to include more than 5,000 acres of marshes and wetlands, offers an oasis for fish, birds, and urban folks craving a bit of nature. Sounds pretty green for a river running through the rust belt.

To learn more about the restoration of the Detroit River and its surroundings, go to the Midwest Natural Resources Group’s website.