Hands-On Learning in the Grand

There’s a big difference between learning science abstractly and learning it first hand right along side experts. This is an opportunity through the Grand Rapids Whitewater program that has become much bigger; it’s now about a river restoration project.

 

– David Koning

Local students taking part in Grand Rapids Whitewater’s 2-week Summer Science and Leadership program learned more about mussels in the Grand.

Students collected and identified mussels at Riverside Park in an attempt to further understand how important mussels are to the ecosystem.

The students were excited to be apart of the research and learn more about the River. Vian Abdulqader, Forest Hills Northern High School student, said “Gathering samples, numbers, information, that way it can lead to information about, ‘Hey these aren’t supposed to be here, or we need more of these’, therefore, we can be like, ‘We need to make these changes to the river to restore it to what it was, the beautiful rapids it used to have,'”.

GRWW organizers launched The Summer Science and Leadership program as a 10-day pilot program to provide students with hands-on opportunities to learn about the many aspects of the Grand River Restoration project. Students will meet a handful of community leaders, environmental educators, and project stakeholders as they explore their own connection to the Grand River. At the end of the 10-day program, students will present their findings and talk about their experiences at a “Gallery Walk” event being held Tuesday July 24 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum from 5:oo-7:30p.m. This year’s program hosted nine students. The goal is to expand the program in the future to a diverse group of students from around the county and region.

Grand Rapids Whitewater would like to thank our collaborative partners at the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW) and the Grand Rapids Public Museum for their help and support of this program. Special thanks to our friends at Fox 17 News for covering this story!

 

Grand Rapids Press Feature

Did you catch us in the Grand Rapids Press?

If you didn’t, don’t worry! You can see the story and front page feature here.

On Sunday June 3, 2018, the Grand Rapids Press published articles about the permitting and design process, how far the river restoration project has come, the natural habitat and creatures living in the River, fundraising, public participation, and the steps we still need to take.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. This is a complex project and we are excited about the momentum we have to bring the rapids back to the Grand for everyone!

 

 

Urban Waters Federal Partnership adds Legitimacy

At 2:30 p.m. today, federal officials announced that the Grand River is one of 11 locations to be added to the Urban Waters Federal Partnership “to restore waterways, help local economies, create jobs and protect Americans’ health.”

The event at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum included the chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and officials from the U.S. departments of Interior and Agriculture.

Read the MLive article about the announcement by the Urban Waters Federal Partnership to include the Grand River.

“It gives us the legitimacy we’ve always needed to move this project along.”

Restore the Grand Rapids

Antique Map, Grand Rapids of Grand River

Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our city was given its name for a reason, because once, long ago, we actually had natural, free flowing whitewater rapids. There is now an important opportunity before us to restore these namesake rapids to the Grand River for everyone to appreciate and enjoy as the deserved focus of our city.

In 2009, the City of Grand Rapids invited the community to participate in a unique process updating the master plan. This new, innovative approach was named Green Grand Rapids. Citizen participation in Green Grand Rapids was designed to inform policy makers, city staff, nonprofits and various interest groups about those things that are important to citizens. Public input has successfully guided how we can use our infrastructure and what the green priorities should be. This was a ‘grass roots effort’ and from it, Grand Rapids Whitewater emerged as a 501c3 non profit to act as champions for the restoration of our most important natural asset. Overwhelming community support moved the idea to the forefront and in 2012, after a lengthy public process, the city commission adopted the Green Grand Rapids master plan update into the City Master Plan as an amendment. We have before us now, an opportunity to make positive, sustainable social, economic and environmental change.

“We will succeed in making our most important natural feature – the Grand River, increasingly visible and usable by converting older riverfront industrial sites to parks and new development that welcome people to the river’s edge. We will recreate the rapids in the river as a reminder of our heritage.”
– Green Grand Rapids (2012)

As we explore the potential of this proposed legacy project, the community and GRWW seek to remove or modify the dams*, and enhance the channel bed and banks, and to restore the ecological, cultural and recreational functions of the historic rapids. Diversification is the major theme of the Grand Rapids Restoration plan. Diversification of the currents, habitats and recreation use can be achieved through enhancements to the channel bed. The diversified channel will spread out the use, as well as maximize the economic benefits of fishing, whitewater, and aesthetics. Diversification is also the key to stream health as the life cycles of species that evolved with the river can be maximized in a complex and diverse environment.

Goals include;

  • Install water quality and habitat enhancements
  • Connect historic sturgeon spawning habitat
  • Improve access and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors
  • Enhance natural aesthetics and riparian function of the riverfront
  • Attract tourism, business and employment opportunities
  • Create access to natural areas for under represented community members
  • Invigorate the cultural significance of the rapids
  • Implement a plan a comprehensive plan for watershed and green infrastructure issues
  • Generate a stewardship ethic for the river through education and outreach
  • As we continue to consult with scientists, watershed experts, engineers and governmental agencies, much is yet to be done.
  • Continued public process, community/public involvement assessment
  • Additional survey and review of flood impact model
  • Fresh water mussel survey
  • Baseline condition (P-51 macroinvertebrates, geomorphology) to evaluate impacts of project (biological assessment)
  • Finish HEC-RAS modeling
  • Dam inspection
  • Fish survey
  • Detailed hydraulic designs of sea lamprey barrier and USFWS review and comment
  • Economic Impact Study
  • Hydraulic Ice Analysis
  • Climate Change impacts
  • Water Quality Monitoring
  • Documentation for permit applications
  • Baseline Monitoring Surveys
    • macroinvertibrates
    • substrate (pebble counts, geomorphology survey)
    • habitat conditions

Significant restoration of the Grand River in Grand Rapids is achievable. Restoration is expected to have valuable social and economic benefits for the entire community. Further studies will show how the proposed project conforms to major constraints including flood conveyance and sea lamprey control. Restoration of lake sturgeon and fresh water mussel habitats are regionally rare opportunities. Based on concepts, the Grand Rapids Restoration has broad support from the managers and regulators of the river. Compelling community support is being voiced and gaining sustained momentum. A community legacy can be established in restoring the regionally rare functions of the Grand Rapids.

* A new barrier is being studied for implementation upstream as a first line of defense against invasive species and flood conveyance.