the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Organisms of the Cuyahoga River
“ The diversity and the population of these organisms reflect how healthy or unhealthy the River may be. Some organisms that are sensitive to pollution are mayflies, stoneflies, riffle beetles, and some caddisflies. A healthy population of these organisms indicates nonpolluted waters. However, if a river contains a large number of pollution tolerant organisms, like sludge worms and leeches, along with few or no pollution sensitive species, then the river water may very well be polluted. ”
