The National Resources Conservation Service determined the project will not cause significant local, regional or national environmental impacts. It’s proposing authorization and funding consideration.
“The original request to NRCS was right around the $11-million mark and those funds have to be used for habitat restoration, dam removal, in-stream elements of the project.”
Matthew Chapman is the executive director of Grand Rapids Whitewater.
Since 2009, the nonprofit has been working with city leaders to restore the rapids as part of a downtown revitalization effort, touting economic, social, and environmental benefits.
This part of the project in the Lower Reach focuses on removing four low-head dams between I-196 and Fulton Street, enhancing fish habitats, improving public safety, and creating recreational opportunities for kayaking, tubing, and fishing.
Construction permits have been secured, and city leaders expect to select a contractor by early March.
“It's kind of like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle that we've been working at for a really long time and we're down to just those last couple of pieces. So, as soon as everything's finalized, we'll have a much better sense of an actual timeline of when the bulldozer will be going in the river and groundbreaking and celebrations.”
Construction is slated to begin this July.
Key benefits of the proposed project include:
- Improved habitat variety and suitability over 2,887 feet and 30 acres of the Grand River
- Increased diversity and productivity of native Great Lakes fish
- Protection of threatened and endangered species, including lake sturgeon, river redhorse and snuffbox mussel
- Improved public access and elimination of unsafe dam hydraulics
- Enhanced public safety through removal of low-head dams that create dangerous turbulent waters
The FONSI and Watershed Project Plan - Environmental Assessment are available at NRCS's website.
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