Fifteen years ago, Biohabitats began working with the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, along with other committed partners, to envision a swimmable, fishable Inner Harbor and chart a course to get there. At the Waterfront Partnership’s recent “Harbor Splash” event, an organized jump into the Inner Harbor, a few of our team members were fortunate to witness or be among those who literally immersed themselves in the realization of that vision. In the wake of such a significant splash, they shared some reflections. Here’s one from Biohabitats’ Learning & Innovation Leader, Chris Steb, who has been helping to bring the Waterfront Partnership’s vision of a swimmable, fishable Inner Harbor to life from the very beginning.
We believe clean water is a human right, and a right for all species. Forty-five years ago, when Baltimore’s Harborplace opened, it spawned a revolution. Cities around the world sought to transform their former industrial waterfronts into public amenities and parks. Baltimore is at it again, but this time, it is a clean water revolution. I recently joined 150 good people of Baltimore in a Sunday morning splash. The water felt amazing, especially after three days of excessive heat. Getting to be among the limited number of people able to swim in this event, I immediately thought about the many in the years ahead that will be able to find this same reprieve and relief. If we keep making progress in making the harbor its most healthy, there will be a time when the shifting baseline will be a harbor full of life and fun. Yes, the water is safe for recreational contact, but much progress remains to lower nitrogen, plastics, and sediment. So we celebrate the progress, find some time to play, and get back to work.
