The Lower Reach is anticipated to cost $19-$20 million dollars. A combination of public and private dollars have been committed to the Lower Reach project. $9.8M in funding from the State of Michigan has been secured and $4.2 million has been secured from local governments. Additionally, there has been approximately $15 million in private sector contributions supporting the design, engineering, and development of the overall river restoration project for the last 15 years. $7.7 million in private contributions remains for the Lower Reach construction. 

The City is currently seeking additional federal funding opportunities from the Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed protection program PL-566 funding authority that could potentially cover up to 50% of the construction costs associated with dam removal and habitat restoration.