"As a student of Pittsburgh environmental history, I understand the importance of the rivers and of water quality to the health of the region. We have made large strides in terms of improving the environmental quality of what was probably the most polluted environment of any of the nation's large cities. In regard to the rivers, we still have major tasks ahead of us, including storm water overflows (bacterial pollution), mine acid,improving the river banks, and improving public access to the rivers. We need to continue and increase the momentum from past accomplishments."