India, Oct. 9 -- Imagine a lake so polluted that swimming and fishing were both prohibited. This was the case with Onondaga Lake in Central New York. The swimming ban began in 1940, followed by a fishing ban in 1970. Fishing resumed in 1986 with certain consumption advisories, and today there are more than 65 fish species documented in Onondaga Lake.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Onondaga Lake overview describes the water as the cleanest it has been in more than 100 years. Pollution, toxicity, and algal growth have declined, clarity has improved, and plant and animal diversity have shown significant progress. The DEC says the lake's recovery has exceeded the expectations of many.

The lake runs along the b...