(haipo)- The fight to save Nahal Saadia continues ○ Join us and together we will save the rare natural gem in the heart of the city of Haifa.
Nahal Saadia - for beginners
Nahal Saadia - One of the tributaries of the Kishon stream (in addition to the Gadora, Judge, Yokneam, Nahalel and Tzipori streams) but the least known of them. This is Nahal Eitan, which flows along a route 2.5 km long and spills down the Kishon. The stream has suffered for many years from severe neglect by the local authority and the discharge of oils, fuels and industrial sewage from garages, ironworks, road washes as well as contractors' waste that piles up on its banks.
Ein Saadia - The waters of the stream are fed by a kind of Saadia that originates from the mountain at the check post junction. The water of the spring flows in a 140-meter-long female that was cut in the 20s of the last century, and from there it is led by a pipe to a pond near the Turkish bridge.
The Turkish Bridge - The Turkish Bridge is an original section of the Valley Railway built at the beginning of the 20th century and is a meeting point for those coming to Nahal Saadia. It is at the intersection of Histadrut Avenue and Bar Yehuda Road.
The blue nymph - A rare plant on the verge of extinction that grows in fresh water. As part of the Blue Nymph restoration project in the waters of Nahal Saadia, six beautiful nymphs grew. Unfortunately, a human hand maliciously uprooted the nymphs that were fenced off by activists and cared for by them with dedication. Today, efforts to save the blue nymph in the anchoring pool of the stream near the Turkish bridge as well as in the Technion's ecological garden continue.
"Saving Nahal Saadia" - Oil of social groups on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, whose members are thousands of citizens who support the fight to save the river, work for its cleaning, organize community activities in the river and raise the fight to local and national awareness.
Nahal Saadia - for the advanced
The municipality of Haifa, in whose jurisdiction the stream is located, has been choosing to ignore its existence for many years. Despite requests and warning letters from the Kishon Drainage Authority, the Ministry of Environmental Protection - Haifa District and other environmental organizations, to remove sewage and pollutants from the stream and/or to fine the factories that continue to pollute the water of the stream without interruption - the municipality does not act and/or does not respond to the claims.
Between the years 2007-2012, changes were made to the route of the stream for the construction of the Carmel tunnels.
Starting in 2012, another plan threatens the river and another change of its route. The HP 1704C plan threatens to develop (more) high-tech areas on the spot and destroy the ecological system that has regenerated around the stream. It orders another diversion of the stream's route, which will leave a narrow and meaningless strip of Nahal Haitan.
In December 2021, on behalf of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, a letter of warning was sent to the municipality and its head, according to the Water Law and the Cleanliness Law, regarding the ongoing pollution of the Saadia stream with sewage from the source of the urban drainage to the natural drainage system and from there to the stream.
In February 2022, a request was sent by the Kishon River Authority and the Union of Cities for the Protection of the Environment to include the Saadia River area within the declaration of the Kishon River. In addition, a recommended alternative plan of the Kishon River Authority was presented for the rehabilitation of the Saadia River and its transformation into an urban nature park that receives a crowd, preserving the unique ecological values of the river and its tributaries.
So what do we have here? A solid stream and an ecosystem that managed to restore itself after the winter of 2012, which was rainy above average, and to this day. In the unique ecological space of the stream, even these days, herons and egrets, egrets, otters, ducks, butterflies and diverse vegetation are observed, which testify to the restoration of nature. On the other hand, one municipality that fails to act as required by law, to prevent further pollution of the stream and the discharge of waste water into its waters, and above all, apparently, does not recognize its personal and national responsibility to preserve water sources and ecological space for the future of all of us.
Nahal Saadia - for lovers
Members of the group "Saving the Saadia River" initiate many public activities in order to expose the public to the beautiful stream that flows through Haifa, to get to know the broad ecosystem that lives alongside it, to clean its waters of waste and to understand the importance of the stream's restoration and care.
On Friday 19/8/22, a cycling event took place on the spring trail, around the river. The ride was led by Eric Drobot, the leader of the struggle for the past two years and together with many families and children, rode along the perimeter route of the stream and through all six of its tributaries. In addition, there was a bicycle ride for professionals, led by Eduardo Oxman, a long-time and experienced local cycling guide, which swept dozens of riders from Haifa and all over the country to a challenging bicycle journey in Haifa.
The bicycle journey began early in the morning in the river, the riders took the cable car up to the university, continued riding in the Carmel Park and then in the urban nature of Haifa, and finished 3.5 hours later in the Saadia river.
The guides of the Society for the Protection of Nature and the Kishon Stream Drainage Authority took care of educational activities on the spot: explanations about the stream, guided tours along its length, games and creative activities from natural materials.
Join the support in the fight to save Nahal Saadia: "Saving Nahal Saadia"- In the link:
Note: The author, Inbal Chen-Bargav, is not a tour guide and therefore all the listings are recommendations only. Travelers must verify the degree of difficulty of the route and the route of the terrain and act according to their best judgment when setting out on any route or trip.
Inbal runs a Facebook community called "For me only (in) Haifa" which deals with paths, routes and nice corners in the nature of Haifa and connects nature and community.
Kudos to Eric Drobot who fought for the continuation of the river's life, for the benefit of all of us. It's really a shame that the authorities do not understand the importance of preserving natural assets for the benefit of the public, and continue to ignore and stun. dom Too bad, cliché, you could buy your world in an instant
https://haipo.co.il/item/34125
Yaron's article from 2016 - 6.5 years and almost nothing has changed on the part of the authorities, sad.
Nahal Saadia is in the public consciousness thanks to Eric Drobot who does not let go of the subject. It's a shame that public figures from the mayor, the minister of environmental protection, Knesset members and many others come and take pictures and do nothing and nothing. The stream belongs to the public and it is the duty of the elected officials to ensure its continued existence as a solid, clean and clear stream.