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Meet the Team: Mike Staal

Mike Staal serves as the river restoration Project Manager for the City of Grand Rapids. In this role, he focuses on the potential impacts of the project, ensuring access on and off the river and other technical aspects. Mike shares some background on the City’s green infrastructure initiatives to improve the water quality of the Grand River watershed.

Watch Mike’s full introduction here.

Note: This is one in a series of video interviews spotlighting the many people involved in the river restoration project.

Project: Lower Reach

Area: Michigan Street to Fulton Street

Install rocks and boulders to create new wave and riffle features.

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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.

Sixth Street Dam to Pearl Street

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.
Leonard Street to Sixth Street Dam

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).
Ann Street to Leonard Street