The River Unites Us

The River Unites Us. . , For thousands of years, the Schuylkill River has provided humans with many important benefits. At this location, the Lenape people hunted, fished, and canoed along the river. They called it the Ganshewahanna, which means "noisy river." This was due to the nearby natural rocky falls (now mostly under water). Philadelphia's first industrial sites were built along the Schuylkill and its creeks. Water was used to mill grain and manufacture textiles and paper. Over time, the industry polluted the water. In 1855, city leaders created Fairmount Park to protect the river. The City bought land and removed industrial sites. Today, the river is an important source of drinking water for over 600,000 Philadelphians., The river is also a significant ecosystem. It is home to hundreds of species of plants, fungi, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, insects, other types of invertebrates, and microscopic organisms., Many people come to the river to watch birds. They hope to observe some of the 300 species that occur in Philadelphia. These include many species of ducks, geese, grebes, cormorants, gulls, sandpipers, herons, and other types of waterbirds. These birds hunt for fish, aquatic plants, and other food in the river. In addition, many types of landbirds live in the plants on the banks of the river., The waters of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia are home to over 50 species of fish including American shad (Alosa sapidissima), Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Yellow perch (Perca flavescens), Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)., Fish from the river were an important food source for the Lenape people and early European settlers. Today, there are limits on eating some fish from this part of the river, including catfish, carp, and eel. This is because pollution in stormwater, wastewater and sediments can build up in these fish. But recreational fishing remains an active sport in Philadelphia and throughout the region., [Caption:] , Once endangered, the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), has made a dramatic comeback since the 1970s. The Endangered Species Act and other federal laws helped protect them. Today, you can see Bald Eagles at many locations in Philadelphia. That includes right here at the East Falls River Landing.