ASHTABULA — For years, navigation in the Ashtabula River was restricted because of a buildup of contaminated sediment.

Now, the boats have returned, commercial craft as well as pleasure boats, and it’s all because of a river cleanup.

An environmental dredging completion celebration was held Tuesday morning at the Ashtabula Yacht Club. The Ashtabula River Partnership organized the event, which was attended by about 50 people, including several state and local leaders.

“Ashtabula River Partnership started in 1994 with the sole purpose of getting the river dredged,” Robert Rule, project manager, said. “Chemical contaminants have been removed from the river, and recreational navigation has been restored in the river and the harbor.”

Inside the yacht club, Rule gave a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation of the river partnership’s progress. The overview presentation started in 1996, with the water sampling, and ended with a total of 400,000 cubic yards of sediment excavated and transported off-site, Rule said.

Everyone then gathered outside under sunny skies, and with a great view of boats coming into the harbor, to celebrate the project’s completion.

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Republican of Ohio, said he liked the PowerPoint presentation.

“This is a wonderful way to celebrate this project,” Voinovich said. “Without the Great Lakes Legacy Act, this would never have happened.”

Using money provided through the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with partner Ohio EPA, oversaw the contaminated-sediment removal from the Ashtabula River between the turning basin at the mouth of Fields Brook and the lift bridge. The sediment contains several chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls and uranium, radium and thorium.

Voinovich also praised U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Concord Township, for his part in the project.

LaTourette said remediation of the Ashtabula River was his top priority.

“Success has a lot of fathers, and I see a lot of fathers and mothers here,” LaTourette said. “God bless you all. This is a wonderful day.”

State Rep. Deborah Newcomb, Democrat of Conneaut, said: “It’s all about partnership. We all know the importance of Lake Erie.”

Ashtabula County Commissioner Daniel Claypool commented on the beautiful day.

He also remembers his boat “dragging bottom,” going down the middle of the river.