The situation of the poem is one of despair and urgency. Rodriguez highlights the ways in which human activity has degraded the environment and threatens to undermine the well-being of communities that rely on the river for water and recreation. The poem also suggests that there is hope for the future if we take action to address these issues, such as cleaning up the river and restoring its natural ecosystem.
Overall, "Concrete River" is a powerful and evocative poem that draws attention to the importance of protecting our natural resources and preserving the environment for future generations.