Water is an intimate part of human life that connects us all, but as industrial societies have continued to develop, the burdens of resource extraction and manufacturing have degraded the Earth’s water resources. This has created numerous injustices that are often disproportionately experienced by certain groups of people such as minorities or low-income residents. A major injustice to the public is that of water pollution and the fight for water sovereignty, and although many people may not be aware of the severity of these issues, they are very interconnected with the environment. Buffalo, New York and its surrounding areas are notable for their post-industrial sites and polluted waterways. Similarly, in India, the Ganges River has become polluted, and both of these areas have also experienced conflicts over water sovereignty. By examining the local manifestations of environmental problems in Buffalo and their connections to broader global issues, we can better understand the impact of environmental degradation and injustice on communities worldwide.
Buffalo river pollution and Tuscarora Water Sovereignty
In 1987, the Buffalo River was designated as one of 43 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes region, meaning it is considered a highly polluted area in need of remediation. The area of concern contains the Buffalo River, its tributary creeks, as well as the outer harbor. The river was given this designation due to decades of household and industrial waste flowing into the waterways which left heavy metals, oils, solvents, and other persistent human-created chemicals that degraded aquatic resources. These pollutants have had impacts on ecosystem health and the waterfront community, including the impairment of fish and other wildlife populations, degrading water quality, and limiting recreational opportunities such as swimming and fishing. This degradation of aquatic resources in the Buffalo area is an injustice to communities that should be able to utilize that water. Although Buffalo has made significant progress on cleaning its land and water, the right to clean water access is often not fulfilled. Unfortunately, there are more direct examples of water access being lost, such as the history of water sovereignty at the Tuscarora Reservation.
The Tuscarora Nation Indian Territory sits about 19 miles north of downtown Buffalo and 8 miles east of Niagara Falls; It is home to the Tuscarora people – the 6th member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, commonly known as the Iroquois. In the 1950s, the construction of the Niagara Power Project involved the damming of two creeks and subsequent flooding of over 550 acres of reservation land to create the Tuscarora Reservoir. This caused the loss of traditional fishing grounds and access to water for the Tuscarora Nation as their water resources were severely altered. Although there was a $1,500 per acre compensation, this still required that a significant portion of their land be forcibly sold as a result of the Supreme Court decision in Federal Power Commission v. Tuscarora Indian Nation (1960). To make matters worse, the water that is available on the reservation from groundwater is unsafe; A 2012 study found that over 90% of wells contained high levels of lead, 69% contained coliform bacteria, and 22% contained E. coli. Because of this lack of water access, Tuscarora residents have to buy bottled water and there are challenges with water-using appliances such as dishwashers. This turns the otherwise ordinary task of obtaining water into a more difficult and costly one.
A map showing the Tuscarora Nation and Niagara Power Authority Reservoir. Google Maps, 2023
It seems inconsiderate toward the Tuscarora Nation that they struggle with their water resources, especially given the historically poor relations between many tribal entities and the United States government. It is also inconsistent that the United States and Canada are signatories of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), which creates binational cooperation to protect the integrity of the Great Lakes; However, The Tuscarora Nation – a federally recognized sovereign state with the right to govern itself – had their water sovereignty taken away due to a US Supreme Court decision. It is absurd that the Tuscarora Reservation is located so close to a significant portion of Earth’s freshwater resources, yet the community has been struggling for decades to secure safe and clean water for their daily needs.
Global Water Concerns
Water is one of the most important and valuable resources on Earth because it is used for agriculture, industry, recreation, and is a basic requirement for life. Despite water covering over 70% of the Earth, less than 3% is freshwater, and of that, only a small portion is accessible from groundwater or surface water. Freshwater is not evenly distributed on the planet, and its availability can have significant impacts on social, economic, and political stability. When water resources become scarce, it can create or exacerbate conflicts between individuals, communities, and even nations. According to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 2 billion people have inadequate water access and it is estimated that by 2025, half of the global population will be experiencing water scarcity in their community, likely displacing 700 million by 2030. Climate change and population development further stress water resources and can create competition for limited supply which leads to tensions and disputes between different users, such as farmers, urban residents, and industries.
A notable global water conflict is the one between India and Bangladesh over the international use of the Ganges river. The Ganges River Basin is valuable to the over 500 million people in multiple countries who use it for irrigation. The River is sacred for many in the region, but unfortunately the river has become polluted due to industry and poor waste disposal. This pollution has caused health impacts for people, and declines in the health of many aquatic ecosystems. The major conflict with the Ganges is that India has been involved with hydroelectric dam projects that have reduced the flow of water into Bangladesh where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. Due to reduced flow, saltwater intrusion has occurred in the region causing previously arable land with freshwater to become saline, reducing available drinking water. Additionally, the reduction of water flow into Bangladesh has made the country accuse India of failing to supply them with adequate water resources that were agreed upon in The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996. This has created a conflict between the two nations which has had little resolve even after UN involvement.
The Buffalo River and the Ganges River share common struggles related to water pollution and sovereignty. Both rivers have been designated as Areas of Concern due to industrial and household waste pollution. The Ganges River in particular has been subjected to hydroelectric dam projects that have reduced the flow of water, resulting in saline intrusion and international conflict between water resources. This connection of water resources is just one example of the broader global issue of water security, and with developing populations and increasing demand for water, many regions of the world are facing water scarcity, pollution, and conflicts over water resources.
Learning From Buffalo
Despite the challenges faced by Buffalo and its surrounding areas, there have been some positive developments in recent years that offer hope for addressing environmental degradation and injustice. One such example is the ongoing restoration of the Buffalo River which has involved shoreline restoration and dredging of polluted sediment. With help from government agencies and community organizations, the river has been transformed to a functioning ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife and recreational activities. Another example is Tifft Nature Preserve near the Buffalo outer harbor which was once an industrial shipping area and hazardous waste dump site which has now been remediated to a cleaner space and urban hiking destination. At Tifft Nature Preserve, there has been the removal of invasive species and the reintroduction of native vegetation to support aquatic habitat. Additionally, the preserve has implemented measures to manage storm-water runoff and protect its wetlands, including the installation of permeable pavement and the creation of rain gardens to help reduce runoff pollution and protect the wetlands' hydrology.
Organizations like Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and the Army Corp of Engineers have implemented many successful restoration projects that remove invasive species, create aquatic habitat, and overall, create safer and healthier waters for people to enjoy. These efforts help to improve the physical and mental well-being of Buffalo residents and these projects have promoted environmental justice by providing more equal access to natural resources and green spaces, creating safer and more enjoyable places to live, work, and relax for everyone.
The environmental problems faced by Buffalo and its surrounding areas are indicative of the broader global issues of environmental degradation and injustice. However, through examining the local manifestations of these problems and identifying positive examples of environmental progress, we can better understand the impacts of these issues and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future. If we consider the positive examples of environmental progress in Buffalo, we can also think about how Buffalo can contribute to global efforts and set an example for addressing these critical issues.
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