The final determination for any project application ultimately falls to the appropriate regulatory agency tasked with managing a particular resource or water body. 

Lower Reach Project:

The City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Whitewater have developed a design based on years of coordination with multiple agencies and stakeholders. A final design and permit application must be submitted to the appropriate State and Federal agencies for review. If the proposed design meets all of the required legal statutes then the agencies will issue the required permits for construction to begin. If the project fails to meet all of the legal statutes, the design must be altered or removed for consideration.  

Upper Reach Project: 

The City and GRWW will work in coordination with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), and other agencies, on the development of and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and acceptable alternatives analysis. The GLFC will ultimately be the responsible party for selecting the preferred design alternative that would then need to undergo a final design and permitting process review similar to that of the Lower Reach.