After nearly two decades of planning, crews have been working on the Grand River to restore the City’s namesake rapids, reshaping the river for fish, wildlife and recreation.
Grand Rapids Whitewater is leading the restoration efforts. Construction is taking place in the Lower Reach, the stretch of river from Bridge Street to Fulton Street. This work involves removing four small dams. After removal, crews will place large boulders to recreate the rapids. Phase one is expected to take two years to complete.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service authorized about $11 million in Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program funding for the project, according to the City of Grand Rapids…