The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued a permit for the Grand River restoration project to the City of Grand Rapids. The City, in partnership with Grand Rapids WhiteWater, submitted a revised permit application in May 2024 for a modified design for the lower reach of the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids.
State approval allows the City to begin bidding for the construction contract this winter with in-river construction expected to start in summer 2025. The City’s and GRWW’s river restoration design team estimates that it will take two construction seasons to complete the project.
The design team is diligently working with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service on the last remaining approval of a Watershed Project Plan-Environmental Assessment, which will determine the level of federal funding NRCS provides to the project. It expects a final decision from NRCS in spring 2025.
“Michigan EGLE is pleased to approve a permit for the planned Whitewater project in the Grand River, which is expected to provide unique recreational and outdoor experiences while protecting the integrity of the river’s freshwater ecosystem,” said Phil Roos, EGLE director. “Approval followed an extensive period of good-faith discussions with the City and project developers and is a win for the City, its residents and visitors, and the environment.”
As she closes out her final term as mayor, Rosalynn Bliss – a champion of the river restoration project for more than a decade – said this is a huge milestone and the last of the State approvals needed for the project.
“I’m so excited that this permit approval came while I still am serving the community in this role,” Bliss said. “It’s another significant step to restoring the rapids and whitewater through the lower reach of the Grand River. I am very appreciative of the teams at EGLE and the MDNR for the time they spent over the past year and a half to arrive at this approval.
“The river restoration, coupled with the green space and trail projects along the river’s edge is going to transform our entire river corridor. What an exciting time for our city!”
Over the past year and a half, the river design team worked through a series of design iterations. They shared those iterations with Michigan Department of Natural Resources and EGLE, who collaborated on feedback to help arrive at a new lower reach plan. The lower reach area of the Grand River extends from just north of Bridge Street south to Fulton Street. Work proposed includes removing four low head dams and installing approximately 20,000 tons of natural rock and boulders in the river.
GRWW first envisioned the project around 2009 as a catalytic project that would restore the river and revitalize the river corridor. The new plan to restore the city’s namesake “rapids” to the Grand River includes:
- Removal of the four low head dams
- Installation and placement of natural rock and boulders, including four unique boulder arch structures to create rapids and provide fish passage
- Addition of three boulder vane structures for greater access along the banks
- Installation of approximately 125 scattered habitat boulders to help restore the river’s historical flow and river-bottom diversity and create resting areas for fish
- Placement of nearly 5,000 tons of boulder and 15,000 tons of small, rounded rocks in the river
Matt Chapman, executive director for Grand Rapids WhiteWater said that State permit approval is a significant step in progressing toward restoring the namesake rapids and creating a more natural river in the heart of our city.
“This new iteration of the Grand River restoration project meets our long-term vision, restores rapids, significantly improves the aquatic habitat and connectivity as well as provides increased access opportunities for people to enjoy the Grand River,” he said. “This permit approval represents over 15 years of hard work, dedication and perseverance to unlock the true potential of this river. Since the early days of our vision, this community has embraced the river and has not wavered in support of this project.”
The river restoration project has sparked millions of dollars of additional investment in the river corridor and the City of Grand Rapids, truly embracing the Grand River as a vital part of our community and a River For All.
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