She Saved a River. And a City.

The Fez River winds through the medina of Fez, Morocco — a maze-like medieval city that’s a World Heritage site. Once considered the “soul” of this celebrated city, the river succumbed to sewage and pollution, and in the 1950s was covered over bit by bit until nothing remained.

TED Fellow Aziza Chaouni recounts her 20-year effort to restore this river to its former glory, and to transform her city in the process.

More about restoring rivers, streams and watersheds:

• EPA awards tribes $2+ million for water quality protection & restoration
• Flows Restored To Waimea River And “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”
• Meet the visionary who restored 5,500 acres of wrecked Texas land to paradise
• Meet the visionary who restored 5,500 acres of wrecked Texas land to paradise
• Oyster Reefs of the Past Hold Lessons for Future Coastal Restoration