Green Development: "The challenge of ecodevelopment was that of 'improving the economic wellbeing of people without impairment of the ecological systems on which they must depend on for the foreseeable future" (Adams, 2020, p. 54). This shows that despite the best efforts of sustainable development, the very concept is impossible to achieve when we are in constant need of resources that can only be obtained through the inevitable destruction of our environment.

Braiding Sweetgrass: "Ohh, here are the ones who know how to say thank you" (Kimmerer, 2013, 34). This is significant because here we can see the intimate relationship and appreciation that Indigenous Peoples of America had and currently have with the land. If we as a society can learn a little from this and view our environment not as a tool to be used, but as something more sacred, then the health and quality of our environment will thrive.

Connections Along the Grand River: "...at its peak, around 26 saw mills in Grand Haven alone shipped millions of board feet of lumber across the country annually" (Connections Along the Grand River, para. 1). This is a vital example out of many of how humans have utilized the river throughout the years. Whether much consideration was put into it or not, we have used the resources provided by our environment to shape our known world. The aftermath, both positive and negative, is becoming more visible each day.

• The intervention and exploitation of the Grand River has caused the formation and structure of it to change overtime. When looking at a larger scale, the industrialization surrounding the river has greatly impacted it still to this day.

• Cutting down trees in the past has affected the integrity of the river and the watershed which in turn is causes the structure to change as well as the behavior of the river.

• While one part of the river may look unphased, it is still affected by human intervention in one way or another. Our very existence and yearning for constant development and evolution causes disruption to the river.

The next best thing to do would be to prevent the further deterioration of the river. The more downed trees there are, the more the integrity of the river is at risk. While removing the downed trees is not a viable option due to various organisms depending on them for their habitats and environments, we can take measures to combat further river erosion.

Possible examples and tools to accomplish this:

• Natural Vegetation - We can plant native plants that have expansive root systems that can grow near vast amounts of water. These plants will reinforce the structure of the river and prevent deterioration.

• Soil Erosion Mats - Soil erosion mats are mats made out of primarily coir coconut fiber, wood fiber, or wood fiber. They are good for reinforcing the structure of the river without disrupting fish and life in the water. It is naturally biodegradable and lasts for up to 5 years giving the vegetation around the banks time to grow.