The city of Toledo has many claims to fame. It’s home to the iconic Jeep, the granddaddy of sport utility vehicles. It’s also home to the Mud Hens — the equally iconic minor league baseball team celebrated by Cpl. Klinger in the classic TV show M*A*S*H.

Against such popular cultural touchpoints, the Toledo Waterways Initiative may seem positively mundane. But when it comes to the ongoing work to rejuvenate the nation’s environmental protection infrastructure, the 18-year...