By: Rachael Budde
Attending SUNY Niagara, I would assume you’ve taken a trip to Niagara Falls either to see the falls themselves or just everyday life has brought you to the area. Many don’t know the hazardous history that lies underneath the soil of Niagara Falls and more specifically: Love Canal.
Love Canal is a hazardous, radioactive dump site where Hooker chemical dumped chemicals into the previously abandoned trench that was Love Canal. William Love was a visionary during the early 1900s and wished to bring water power to the city of Niagara and Lockport by extending the Niagara River throughout the Falls area. This trench was left abandoned for years, later becoming a frequent dumping site for Hooker Chemical who had bought the property after its vacancy in the 1940s. Residents became aware of this radioactive contamination when their children came home with blisters on their feet from playing in the park- nicknamed the Black Lagoon. ONe resident in particular rose above the others and demanded government intervention and restoration of this chemical waste. Lois Gibbs, having children herself, was afraid of their safety and future. After months of begging for interference, when officers came to test soil she locked them in her house and demanded real action be taken to alleviate this problem. President Jimmy Carter called for a distribution of funds to be put towards the love canal. In the 1980s: housing on 99th and 100th street (either sides of the canal) were demolished and a fence was put up to section off the waste land. This fence remains today.
When considering the history it’s hard to rationalize that a fence could truly section off this contamination. Veterans Park is typically where little league games and sports events are held over the summer. At Veterans Park in Grand Island, surveying was done in 2026 that sparked controversy over radioactivity in the park. This was identified by a member of the DEC when surveying Buell Road and was told to residents at a town board meeting. There was no press release or public release form given to locals on the discovery of these allegedly bad chemicals. Members state that these chemicals found in 5-6 hundred diameter areas under the soil are not harmful but rather along the lines of harmful- I’m not too sure what that clarifies.
There was also testing done at Gill Creek near Niagara University where surveys found that there was chemical runoff coming into the creek from nearby factories and contaminated storm water. In 1992, polluted land was removed from the creek bed due to the hazardous level of chemical waste left by DuPont oil company. They no longer allow people to fish at the creek.
According to Save our Backyards WNY, there is soil sampling being done in Lewiston currently and homeowners are uninformed as to what these samples are testing and the results of those samples. Homeowner Cherrish Beals states that this area of contamination is at fault for the various health issues their son has developed.
The areas surrounding Love Canal have shown signs of contamination or speculation thereof. These tragedies have harmed or have the potential to harm so many people around here. Many students who transfer to this area are uninformed of the chemical history of Niagara Falls. Some from Love Canal even remain residents there due to a poor financial situation. There needs to be more advocacy for change when discussing the chemical content of our soils. Cornell University offers soil samples to be mailed in and tested for various chemicals and acidity makeup.You can reach Cornell through their website: https://soilhealthlab.cals.cornell.edu/testing-services/ . You can also conduct water sample testing through Cornell through their website: https://cceontario.org/home-family/well-water-sampling-program . For cheaper alternatives you can look through your county and see what services they offer in regards to testing.There needs to be more advocacy and change when surrounding this topic- Be the change.
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