LocationGrand River, Grand Rapids, MI
Duration2011 to Current
Services
Project Website |
OverviewThe community of Grand Rapids is proposing a legacy conservation effort to restore their urban waters. This is a project proposed in and on the Grand River through the urban corridor of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Through a community planning effort led by the city, the 2009 Green Grand Rapids Special Study, the Grand River Whitewater Park Preferred Alternative was prioritized. The total project area now covers 127 acres of the Grand River to be improved for habitat, whitewater, rowing, fishing, aesthetics, and overall stream health. The life cycle of many native species depends on the healthy function of rapid habitat and access to these rapids in the river. Important and valuable functions of the river in Grand Rapids have been degraded by five low head dams, flood walls, urban encroachment, and channelization (dredging and grading). The community seeks to remove the dams, and enhance the channel bed and banks, to restore the ecological, cultural and recreational functions of the historic rapids while maintaining invasive species control.
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“Restoring the rapids to the Grand River will be an important catalyst for the continued revitalization of the region’s downtown.” --Former Mayor Heartwell
Media Highlights
With designs in the works, river restoration to move toward launch The Rapidian - June 30, 2015
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Whitewater project keeps flowing
GRBJ - January 16, 2015 |
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Media Archives
Money and Permits: 2 hurdles remain - MLive - January 15, 2015
No Increased Flooding Risk in Grand Rapids - Michigan Live - January 11th, 2014
How would $27M whitewater project affect Grand River during flooding - MLive - January 11, 2014
Grand Rapids Mayor Touts Blue Economy - Government Executive.com - Sept. 18th, 2014
Grand Rapids to reimagine Grand River floodwalls after years of fighting feds - Michigan Live - December 21, 2014
Grand Rapids to reimagine floodwalls - MLive - December 21, 2014
GRWW unveils latest plan to restore the city's namesake rapids - MLive - November 22, 2013
Early ArtPrize entry, or fisherman's last-gasp plea? - MLive - September 6, 2013
River restoration projects revitalize ecologies, economies - American City & County - June 19, 2013
Paddlers Urge Feds to Fund Urban River Revitalization - Playak - June 1, 2013
Can Restoring River Revitalize Cities? - Next City - June 11, 2013
Two Kayakers are Building a Greener, Grander Grand Rapids - Outside Magazine - June 5, 2013
Real Rapids in Grand Rapids? - The Wall Street Journal - June 2, 2013
Feds to provide support to Grand River restoration project - MiBiz - May 12, 2013
GRWW's $27 million plan added to federal project list - MLive - May 10, 2013
New partnership should give a boost to Grand River rapids restoration project - Michigan Radio - May 10, 2013
Grand River restoration groups row forward - GRBJ - March 26, 2013
State support and funding is available for GRWW project - MLive - February 4, 2013
Gov. Snyder's State of the State mentions thrills GRWW proponents - MLive - January 16, 2013
Grand Rapids Whitewater or Grand River Restoration? - MLive - September 21, 2012
Sink or swim: What's your take on GRWW project? - MLive - September 17, 2012
Before downtown dams, Grand River was 'our Garden of Eden' - MLive - September 20, 2012
Group looks to make a splash by making Grand River more rapid - Crain's Detroit Business - April 8, 2012
River Restoration conducts survey along Grand River near Fourth Street Dam - MLive - October 28, 2011
No Increased Flooding Risk in Grand Rapids - Michigan Live - January 11th, 2014
How would $27M whitewater project affect Grand River during flooding - MLive - January 11, 2014
Grand Rapids Mayor Touts Blue Economy - Government Executive.com - Sept. 18th, 2014
Grand Rapids to reimagine Grand River floodwalls after years of fighting feds - Michigan Live - December 21, 2014
Grand Rapids to reimagine floodwalls - MLive - December 21, 2014
GRWW unveils latest plan to restore the city's namesake rapids - MLive - November 22, 2013
Early ArtPrize entry, or fisherman's last-gasp plea? - MLive - September 6, 2013
River restoration projects revitalize ecologies, economies - American City & County - June 19, 2013
Paddlers Urge Feds to Fund Urban River Revitalization - Playak - June 1, 2013
Can Restoring River Revitalize Cities? - Next City - June 11, 2013
Two Kayakers are Building a Greener, Grander Grand Rapids - Outside Magazine - June 5, 2013
Real Rapids in Grand Rapids? - The Wall Street Journal - June 2, 2013
Feds to provide support to Grand River restoration project - MiBiz - May 12, 2013
GRWW's $27 million plan added to federal project list - MLive - May 10, 2013
New partnership should give a boost to Grand River rapids restoration project - Michigan Radio - May 10, 2013
Grand River restoration groups row forward - GRBJ - March 26, 2013
State support and funding is available for GRWW project - MLive - February 4, 2013
Gov. Snyder's State of the State mentions thrills GRWW proponents - MLive - January 16, 2013
Grand Rapids Whitewater or Grand River Restoration? - MLive - September 21, 2012
Sink or swim: What's your take on GRWW project? - MLive - September 17, 2012
Before downtown dams, Grand River was 'our Garden of Eden' - MLive - September 20, 2012
Group looks to make a splash by making Grand River more rapid - Crain's Detroit Business - April 8, 2012
River Restoration conducts survey along Grand River near Fourth Street Dam - MLive - October 28, 2011
