Project Updates for Grand River/Grand Rapids
The Grand River/Grand Rapids Partnership recognizes the restoration of the historic rapids in the Grand River, running through downtown Grand Rapids, is the catalyst for an exciting opportunity to revitalize the river corridor and create significant social, environmental, and economic benefits.
The partnership consisting of members from Grand Rapids WhiteWater, River Restoration Inc., The City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. and many others is currently working to develop a shared vision for the restored river, downtown area, and the river banks. There is deliberate focus on raising needed funds, receiving required permits, and putting in place a sustainable long-term organizational structure to manage the restoration and revitalization effort.
2023
On October 6, 2023, the Grand River/Grand Rapids Urban Waters Partnership convened a group of local, state, and federal partners to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership designation. There was a total of 45 attendees, 15 individual local organizations and 6 federal organizations. At the end of 2023, the GR/GR Partnership finalized and publicized the 2020-2023 GR/GR Work Plan. This workplan is intended to define goals, detail key partners, summarize priority projects that are supplemental to the Grand River Restoration Project, while also specifying milestones.
2022
In 2022, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW) secured funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and United States Forest Service (USFS) to hire a full-time Urban Waters Ambassador. The Grand Rapids Ambassador’s work will largely consist of protecting, restoring, and revitalizing urban water sources in the Lower Grand River Watershed. These goals will be accomplished through continual development of public-private partnerships, promoting environmental education and outreach, and promoting economic revitalization and prosperity through existing networks of urban water resources. The Ambassador will also finalize and continually update a Federally recognized Work Plan for the Grand River/Grand Rapids partnership.
2019
Year of the Student
In 2019 student projects took center stage for the partnership. Partnership organizations worked with students to install approximately 50,000 square feet of bioswale and rain gardens in the Plaster Creek and Grand River watersheds. Students and residents helped propagate 50,000 native plants to be used in green infrastructure installations and provided maintenance on 12 acres of green infrastructure reducing bacterial and nutrient contamination, as well as addressing flooding issues due to more frequent and larger storm events.
2017
New funding for habitat restoration
Grand Rapids Whitewater has received $4 million of an $8 million federal grant. The funding will support habitat restoration for fish and endangered species in the Grand River through downtown Grand Rapids as well as support to implement water quality improvements. A local news article quoted Urban Waters Ambassador Matt Chapman saying the project has received a "big boost" as they start to receive significant federal support.
Read the article in full here.
2016
Mayor of Grand Rapids discusses Urban Waters
During a segment of CSPAN, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss discussed Grand Rapids' involvement with Urban Waters and the area's water history. Mayor Bliss mentioned the city's current efforts to remove dams from the river to restor it to its natural condition, a $30 million endeavor.
2015
Steering Committee Report
The Grand River Restoration Steering Committee has completed its work assuring coordination of the various planning studies to create a vision for the restored river, downtown, and the river banks. The committee is proud of its accomplishments and looks forward to assisting in the transition from vision to implementation. The Grand River Restoration Steering Committee's final report summarizes the committee’s charge, accomplishments, and recommended actions.
Ambassador Funding
The city of Grand Rapids, local business leaders, and foundations have contributed $300K to hire an Ambassador, develop a restoration plan, and conduct an economic impact analysis to restore the river’s namesake rapids for recreation and economic development, with a focus on the underserved west side of the river. Federal agencies are playing a supporting role with technical assistance and some funding.
Grand River Restoration
Restoration of the Grand River and namesake rapids in downtown Grand Rapids will bring social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits. Goals include: expanding public use and access; engaging youth, Native Americans, and historically-underserved communities; expanding recreational use by anglers, rowers, paddlers and whitewater enthusiasts; restoring spawning grounds for Lake Sturgeon; improving habitat for mussel species; remediating the hydromodification impacts on water quality; and expanding economic opportunities associated with turning the “face” of downtown back toward the River.