Skip to content

Project
Overview

Revitalize the Rapids

Bringing the rapids back to the Grand River in a safe and environmentally responsible way requires careful planning and execution. Working closely with community partners, government agencies and river development experts, we are working to revitalize the 2.5 mile stretch of the Grand River.

The project has two components:

LOWER REACH

Project Area: Bridge Street to Fulton Street

The purpose of the project is to Restore the rapids, improve public safety, restore aquatic habitat diversity and suitability for native Great lakes fish and mussel species and enhance river access and use.

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 project for the last 15 years. $7.7 million in private contributions remains for the construction. 

The City is currently seeking additional federal funding opportunities from the Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed protection program PL566 funding authority that could potentially cover up to 50% of the construction costs associated with dam removal and habitat restoration. 

The design for the Lower Reach Project has occurred over many years with significant input and coordination with state and federal regulatory agencies. 

Lower Reach Design Highlights: 

  • Once constructed, four dangerous low-head dams will be removed from the river and there will be rapids in Grand Rapids once again.
  • The four low-head dams will be replaced with two channel wide grade control structures constructed of rock, boulder, and alluvium that replicate natural channel design principles desired by Michigan Department of Energy Great Lakes and Environment (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).
  • The design will incorporate over 125 scattered habitat boulders to improve aquatic habitat and flow diversity.
  • The habitat boulders will create whitewater and replicate the boulder strewn rapids historically believed to be present in the Lower Reach of the river.
  • Three j-hook structures have been incorporated into the design at the river edges to create segments of slower water to enhance river access and use.
  • The design will significantly improve fish passage and available spawning habitat in this reach of the river compared to the existing condition.
  • The project no longer contains the previously proposed “standing whitewater wave features,” however removing the dangerous dams will provide increased opportunities for recreational access and use. Angling, wading, tubing, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities will be enhanced. Whitewater paddling opportunities may exist at some river flows.
  • Boating anglers will still be able to navigate the river under similar water levels as they do with the existing stretch of the river.
  • The Sixth Street dam will not be impacted by the Lower Reach project. Future discussions on potentially removing the Sixth Street Dam will be led by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission and there will be a separate environmental review and permitting process associated with that project.
  • The project will “restore the rapids” in Grand Rapids through an environmentally sound design that will enhance the sustainability of fish, wildlife, and natural resources within the Grand River.
  • Permit applications for construction to begin in the Summer of 2025 were submitted to the required state and federal agencies in May of 2024 and are currently under review.
  • Per State permit requirements, the project has been placed on public notice from July 17, 2024 until August 6, 2024. Public hearing comments will be accepted until August 15, 2024. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Water Resources Division (WRD), has posted the following notice to the MiEnviro Portal home page. To make comments and view documents please click on the following link: https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/external/publicnotice/info/7943297631945854290/details
  • A virtual Public Hearing will be held at 6:00pm EST on Monday August 5, 2024. To attend the online public information meeting register at https://bit.ly/3XYrsmt. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you do not have internet access and would like to join by PHONE ONLY please use the following phone number: 636 651 3142, and use conf code 374288. Pre registration is not required to attend the meeting. Individuals interested in participating can click the link above at the start of the event (6:00 p.m.).
    State and Federal permits needed to relocate threatened and endangered species prior to the start of construction have been submitted and are anticipated to be approved in August 2024.
  • Pending approvals of all State and Federal Permits and appropriate river conditions:
    • Mussel relocation crews are anticipated to be in the river relocating mussels from mid-August 2024 until mid-October 2024.
    • In-river construction, including dam removal and channel reconstruction, would begin in July 2025.
  • Relocation of threatened and endangered mussels species is required prior to the start of construction. The project design has reduced the impacts to the endangered mussels to the greatest extent possible, but relocation is still required.
  • Relocating mussels prior to the start of construction will have the most ecological benefit for these species.
  • The project has been designed to improve the conditions of the river for aquatic species. Changes to in-stream habitat are anticipated to benefit threatened and endangered species, fish hosts, and other fish species.
  • This is a very large and complex mussel relocation effort. The project area is larger than 45,000 square meters, roughly the size of eight football fields, and could require over 100 crew days of searching and relocation.
  • Up to four dive crews could be in the river from mid-August until mid-October. All mussels found, including federally endangered, state threatened and endangered, species of concern and common species will be removed from the construction area and relocated to areas of other suitable habitat.

UPPER REACH

Project Area: Ann Street-Bridge Street

  • Public safety and flood control
  • Sea lamprey control
  • Fish passage
  • Recreation

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) will lead an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) process for the Upper Reach project to evaluate feasible alternatives for construction of a new barrier for invasive sea lamprey in the Grand River to replace the aging Sixth Street dam.

The EIS process originally kicked off in 2019 but has since been paused as the design and permitting efforts of the Lower Reach Project have been ongoing.

Once the permit applications for the Lower Reach project have been approved, the EIS process will resume. The EIS process will comply with all state and federal regulations and evaluate all potential project alternatives. A timeline for the Upper Reach EIS process is not currently available.  

The GLFC will be the ultimate decision-making authority on the type and location of the proposed new lamprey barrier in the Grand River. The GLFC has contracted with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the EIS process and evaluate all potential alternatives for the Upper Reach Project.

The City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Whitewater will be involved in future conversations regarding the Upper Reach project to continue to achieve the river access and use goals outlined in many community led planning processes such as Green Grand Rapids, GRForward, the Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan, and to enhance ongoing investments in the Grand River Greenway.

One lamprey barrier alternative being considered, as originally proposed by GRWW and the City of Grand Rapids, is the construction of an Adjustable Hydraulic Structure to be located approximately one mile upstream of the existing 6th Street Dam. The EIS process will develop and evaluate multiple project design alternatives to meet the project objectives. 

Over $20 million dollars in federal funding for the construction of a new lamprey barrier in the Grand River has been identified and committed to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to ensure international sea lamprey control objectives continue to be met on the Grand River. These federal dollars come from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding as well as an appropriation in the GLFC annual budget. Additional public and private dollars will also be identified to support the future Upper Reach project.

The EIS process has been paused by the GLFC until the Lower Reach permit application is deemed administratively complete and likely to be approved.

Construction of the Upper Reach cannot begin until the Lower Reach construction is finished and the Upper Reach EIS process has been completed. A timeline for the Upper Reach EIS process is not currently available. 

Project Benefits

This work has important economic, environmental and recreational benefits.

Additionally, the project has embedded equity and inclusion into all river revitalization efforts and provides significant educational opportunities for young people in the fields of math, science, engineering, environmental resources management, public health/policy and more.

Through an intentional outreach effort to embed equity and inclusion into all river revitalization efforts, the project is consistent with the City’s Master Plan and vision of the Grand River as a prominent feature that can enhance the quality of life for all.

Economic Benefits

Restoration of the Rapids has long been touted as the catalytic project for revitalizing and reimagining the Grand River corridor in downtown Grand Rapids. This project is expected to have a positive impact on commerce and will add to the vibrancy and vitality of our region.

Removing dangerous dams, and improving river access and use, will provide new business development opportunities and support existing businesses along and near the river. 

New Recreational
Opportunities

The proposed design will create greater water flow diversity and support many new recreation activities like paddle boarding, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and angling without impeding existing fishing and boating activities. The proposed improvements will encourage recreation by enhancing the visual, aesthetic and audible experience near and along the river.

Accessible by foot, bike, bus and car, the project will create the closest and most accessible water recreation for Grand Rapids’ most diverse neighborhoods.

Improved
Environmental
Conditions

The project will safely provide greater public access to the Grand River and enhance the river’s ecosystem when compared to existing conditions.

The removal of safety risks caused by the four existing low-head dams

Improved fish passage hydraulics over existing conditions 

Gently sloping riffles and the addition of over 125 scattered habitat boulders will provide better fish passage and habitat diversity for fish and mussel species

The project is anticipated to have a positive impact on mussel species and mussel habitat, meaning that more mussels could eventually occupy this reach of the river someday. 

Using natural boulders, rock and cobble to construct the proposed improvements will contribute to the aquatic diversity of the Grand River. The pocket water, micro-eddies, seams, fast water and slow water created by the natural boulders and alluvium all contribute to improved oxygenation, macroinvertebrate habitat, and overall health of the river.