New discussion
In the early 1900s, a significant amount of water from the falls was diverted to various establishments, leading many to believe that the falls’ natural beauty was diminishing. This sparked a discussion about the best way to balance industry and nature conservation.
According to the industrialists, their plants helped to maintain the falls by limiting the amount of water flowing over the edge. And even though erosion typically took place at the rate of 4.5 feet per year, businessmen believed that reduced water flow would help prevent it.