PLAINWELL, Mich. — A decades-in-the-making project that aimed to remove the Plainwell Dam and restore nearly a mile of the Kalamazoo River has wrapped up.
As of Tuesday, a one-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River and its surrounding habitat affected by outdated dam structures and illegally dumped clean chemicals has returned to being a “thriving, free-flowing ecosystem,” according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
- Previous coverage: Portion of Kalamazoo River reopens after dam removal and chemical cleanup
“This project shows what’s possible when agencies come together with a shared purpose,” Mark Mills, regional supervisor with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, said. “We weren’t just removing a dam, we were reimagining how this stretch of river could function ecologically and socially. The result is a safer, healthier and more accessible river for the people and wildlife of southwest Michigan.”
In all, the $7 million project restored 0.8 miles of river channel, stabilized more than a mile of riverbank, and reestablished 15 acres of native riparian habitat, officials said…