A Grand River Poem, with regards to Dr. Seuss
Oh, how diverse our Grand River will be! Waves, riffles, runs, galore — glides, and pools, and even more! There is a difference, as you soon will know, impressing your
This
Revitalize the Rapids in the Grand River
Grand Rapids is a city with a legend written into its name. But the rapids in the Grand River haven’t been seen for generations. They disappeared with a series of dams in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Although Grand Rapids is thriving and a tourist destination, its namesake feature is absent — the rapids are a lost legend. We can change that.
Project Elements
Stop Invasive Sea Lamprey
Reveal a Portion of the Limestone Bedrock
Remove Aging Dams
Add Rocks and Boulders
ProjectElements
Stop Invasive Sea Lampreys
Project: Upper Reach
Area: Ann Street to Leonard Street
To protect the Grand River from invasive species, a new barrier will be installed. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is leading the review of several options and locations, including an Adjustable Hydraulic Structure (which would look similar to this construction in Iowa).
Reveal a Portion of the Limestone Bedrock
Project: Upper Reach
Area: Leonard Street to Sixth Street Dam
Removing the Sixth Street dam will expose a portion of the limestone bedrock that is currently submerged.
Remove Aging Dams
Project: Upper and Lower Reach
Area: Sixth Street Dam to Pearl Street
Remove four low-head dams (Lower Reach). Remove Sixth Street dam (Upper Reach) after new lamprey barrier is complete.
Project: Lower Reach
Project: Lower Reach
Area: Michigan Street to Fulton Street
Install rocks and boulders to create new wave and riffle features.
History and Timeline
The River
The Grand River is older than the glaciers. During the last Ice Age, as the large blocks of ice thawed, the river served as a drainage channel for the meltwater. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Ottawa people established villages in and around what is now Grand Rapids. They believed the mist from the rapids to be the earth releasing its spirit and named the river Owashtanong, which means “Far away water”, because of its length. Its echo could be heard for miles as it rebounded off the neighboring trees. The river served as both a cultural and economic source for centuries. Bringing back the rapids won’t just restore its echo, it would return the spirit of the river back to the region.
GRWW
Grand Rapids WhiteWater (GRWW) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, formed as an outgrowth of the Green Grand Rapids initiative to champion the restoration of the rapids on the Grand River.
Started by Chip Richards and Chris Muller, the organization is led by Steve Heacock and Matt Chapman, and backed by an active board of directors.
In 2013, the Grand River restoration initiative was designated an Urban Waters Federal Partnership project.
Working with numerous community partners, including design experts from the River Restoration Org., GRWW has led the planning, fundraising and permitting process.
Recent Blog Posts
Perseverance and other Grand Rapids WhiteWater values
It has been a significant couple of weeks for Grand Rapids WhiteWater. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) determined that, as of September 9, 2022, our
Who We Are
Grand Rapids WhiteWater is a group dedicated to revitalizing the Grand River and putting the namesake rapids back in the Grand River for everyone’s enjoyment.
MissionStatement
The purpose of the organization is to recreate rapids that provide recreational and fitness opportunities to the general public, and to promote an environmentally sound design that will enhance the sustainability of fish, wildlife and natural resources within the Grand River.