Restoration of the Grand River Rapids

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2017/12/grand_river_rapids.html

Early Grand River

It's a map from 1830 that depicts the rapids that once used flow through the river just North of the Blue Bridge downtown. From when white settlers came to the area in the 1820's, the river has never looked as it once did before human interaction. Sometime in 1834, according to the piece "Traffic on the Grand" in Connections Along the Grand River, the first saw mill was erected in Grand Haven which led to the boom of transporting lumber along the river from forest to mill. As industrialization grew, the number of dams grew which slowly redirected currents, eventually eliminating all rapids from the river.

The Importance of Revitalization

Restoring the rapids are not solely for cosmetic and recreational purposes, but these are still important aspects. The current stigma around the Grand River is depressing, people tend to avoid it as they believe it is dirty water. The first step to restoration is removing the dams that block the flow of water, fish, and people along the river to make way for the rapids, the Lake Sturgeon to migrate to breeding grounds, and to spread awareness that the river can be engaged with through kayaking, etc. Not only would we see environmental improvements, but economic ones as well. Restoring the rapids would bring in a significant amount of tourism for its recreational use, inevitably increasing spending at Grand Rapids' restaurants, hotels, and shops. Under the Urban Waters Federal Partnership with Grand Rapids through the EPA, it's noted that revitalization might even go as far to serve as a uniting factor in connecting the East and West neighborhoods.

Off of Fulton St bridge, people have created pictures using rocks in the Grand Rivers shallow water.

Sculpture in Ah-Nab-Awen Park, downtown Grand Rapids titled "Lorrie's Button."

So, How Do We Do This?

There are organizations throughout West Michigan that are acting as the voice for the Grand River. The main organization I'm focusing on is the non-profit Grand Rapids White Water (GRWW). GRWW is working alongside the Urban Waters Federal Partnership with the EPA and multiple other community partners, to plan, fundraise, and communicate the process of restoring the rapids. GRWW plans to revitalize the river by the three headers I've listed below.

https://www.facebook.com/grandrapidswhitewater/

Break Dams

Since the dams restrict movement along the river, the first step is to remove five dams to encourage fish migration and reignite the rapids.

Add Boulders

Installing boulders in scientifically calculated spots will create the wave and ripple patterns needed for the rapids.

Promote Recreation

Inevitably, restoring the rapids will attract tourists for fishing and water sports. Thus, bringing people into the city of Grand Rapids and stimulating the economy.

Class Readings

In ENS 300 01 with Prof. Swayamprakash we have read numerous articles, chapters, even comics. It was Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer that opened my eyes to a new perspective and appreciation on the nature around me. In Indigenous teachings, many more objects are alive and praised for what they provide to human well-being. For example, Kimmerer uses pecans as an example of reciprocity, that the pecans are better off when they are feeding people in times of need. With a new mindset, you start to examine the world around you, and with the Grand River being the most significant piece of nature around us, the mind automatically starts to go there. To assess what the river offers its communities, you must first assess what the people offer the river. It seems society has allowed greed to take over, the message I received from Braiding Sweetgrass is that the Earth is much more than just what it offers. We built dams that took away the Grand Rivers rapids; we blocked sacred Lake Sturgeon from their breeding grounds, dwindling their populations; and we polluted (and continue to do so) the river for our own monetary gains.

abiolch1@mlive.com, A. B. |. (2017, December 11). Historic Grand River Photos show how quickly its rapids disappeared. mlive. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2017/12/grand_river_rapids.html

colsen@mlive.com, C. O. |. (2012, October 18). When fishing the Grand River, try a little bit of this, a little bit of that. mlive. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.mlive.com/outdoors/2012/10/fishing_the_grand_river_try_a.html

Kimmerer, R. W. (2022). Braiding Sweetgrass. Langara College.

McKee, K., Williford, M., & Tabberer, J. (2019). Connections along the Grand River: A journey through west michigan history. Grand Valley State University, Kutsche Office of Local History.

Restore the rapids in the Grand River. Grand Rapids WhiteWater. (2022, September 22). Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://grandrapidswhitewater.org/

Urban waters strategic framework - US EPA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-03/documents/strategicframework.pdf

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