For several decades now, the Kishon River, which flows through the Haifa Bay and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, has been called the saddest stream in the world, and rightly so. Another less dramatic name is the name "Nahal HaPishon" and not for nothing. The Kishon is a steady stream that flows year-round from the direction of Gilboa and is about 64 km long. The Kishon stream is considered one of the most polluted streams in the world and this after many years of pollution and neglect.
Already in the first years of the establishment of the state and with the passing of the years, pollution from factories, chemical and organic pollution from the irrigation of fields and various effluents from various settlements flowed into the stream, from the Gilboa to the point of discharge through the Kishon Port. the pollution Everything sank and accumulated on the bottom of the stream at a height of 90 cm, heavy thick mud And black that covered the clean bottom of the river.
It should be noted that this stream was clean and clear, which was a pastime for the residents of the area who flocked to it every free day for a family picnic and bathing.
testimonials: "The water of the stream was so clear that my sister's ring fell off and I buried it from a depth of several meters"... the testimony of a citizen from that time.
There are families who remember the days when fishermen returned to their home with a lot of fish that included carp weighing over eight kg, crabs and more.
But this greedy point decayed very quickly due to the heavy pollution and harmed the underwater fauna by adding a bad smell, black and oily water. and harm to those who enter it. Being a strong stream, the stream was used as a training ground for various IDF units whose serious injuries to the fighters were grounds for lawsuits against all those involved in the matter. This is how a commission of inquiry was also established for the fighters of the 13th Fleet who dived in the stream.
Fishermen from Kishon were also affected by terrible diseases due to the daily contact with the water of the stream. Over the years, the state, together with all concerned, began to take care of this and try to restore the stream.
After several years of intensive treatment of digging and removing the sludge, and the flow of water, the stream began to show signs of recovery, turtles were introduced that were able to be absorbed in the place, the water of the Kishon stream began to take on a lighter shade and the water became much less oily. And there are sections where the bottom of the stream is ..clean sand.
Fish began to return to the stream, including Red Sea invaders. For example:
Carnivore fish, kipons, and small hornbills. Nutria were also observed in the western part of the stream, as well as a number of jellyfish and various stingrays and even crabs that were a thing of the past. Yes, they will multiply.
Underwater photographs from the bottom of the Kishon: although the holy water of faith of the singer group Credence Clearwater will not be resurrected, it is good for us.
Part of the complex family in the water space in Nahal Kishon (photo: Motti Mendelson) 
An air bubble in the Kishon river after a nutria dive (photo: Motti Mendelson) 
A comb on the bottom of the Kishon river. On the bottom of the stream you can see fragments of oysters (photo: Motty Mendelson) 
Invertebrates in the Kishon water. In the background - the sky (photo from the bottom of the Kishon - Motti Mendelson)
The Kishon is still polluted, the Haifa Bay as well.
You can't enjoy what is happening, and you can't breathe in the bay!!!
So don't let them tell you stories
The situation in the river has improved by thousands of meters from the past. My mother swam in the clean Kishon in the thirties, I am tested every year by the Ministry of Defense and today I row in the rowing club about three times a week in Kishon. There is no smell, fishermen are spread out along the stream on both banks, but there are more permits for the discharge of pollutants into the stream under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment, there are sections where there is a strong smell of urine, probably from barns or pig sties, but we live in hope for continued improvement.
The factories pollute the Kishon River, the soils and the air in Haifa Bay
Without speeding up the closure of the factories, it is not possible to clean up the backlog and promote the innovation bay
honorable
I know the Kishon from 1956 on the eve of Operation Sinai as a child.
The closet was never clean. The industry was already discharging toxic material waste back then.
I remember the beginning of the war in the Knesset when everyone lied to everyone.
the industry. Pure and other institutes.
Today, to revive the stream to the best of my knowledge, it is necessary to dig deep into the stream, perhaps even into groundwater. contaminated
I hope that the writer of the article does not intend to dive into Kishon (those who remember what happened to those people from Ha'ai know).
Once, many years ago, he was at Tzat Kishon in the Shemen beach area before they closed the place.
The smell and pollution in the air was terrible, it's hard for me to believe that anything has improved.
No sane person would enter these waters.
The entire area of the factories is one big danger, not because of Nasrallah's threats, but if God forbid there is a leak/fire that they can't control, they will have to evacuate the people from Haifa and Kiryat.
Thanks for the regular reports from the field. Yes, the positive reports will multiply.
Very interesting article. Good to finally hear about the restoration of the polluted stream. As a lover of nature in general and the sea in particular, for all that it implies, I love to read the information that emerges from your articles.
We will continue to follow
Nahal is still very polluted despite all efforts. The factories still pour polluted water into the stream without any hindrance! About a year ago I paddled as deep into the stream in a kayak from the fishing anchorage as far as is possible today and I witnessed factories pouring smelly water of many colors into it. The smell of gasoline and what not! Shame on the Ministry of Environmental Protection and public health trust in the Haifa area
Very interesting article??
Already in the first years of the establishment of the state and as the years went by, pollution from factories, chemical and organic pollution flowed into the river.
Today we see an excellent start to the wild life in the river..
The river is recovering thanks to the initiative of the Israeli government
Nahal Kishon must return to its glory days for Kate purposes for recreation and bathing as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!