Grand Rapids City Commissioners awarded a $14.5 million construction contract to Michigan-based environmental service contractor Taplin Group.
Taplin will lead the project restoring the rapids, improving aquatic habitat for native species like fish and mussels, and enhancing recreational use of the river.
Phase One on the Lower Reach focuses on the stretch between I-196 and Fulton Street, removing four dams and replacing them with natural rock features.
Construction begins this spring and is expected to take two years to complete.
Nearby Ah-Nab-Awen Park will be closed during construction serving as the primary equipment staging area.
A second phase involving the Sixth Street Dam is currently under environmental review by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission to determine how to manage sea lamprey in the area.
The project is financed through a mix of state grants, city funds and contributions from nonprofit group Grand Rapids Whitewater.
For more information about the Grand River Revitalization Project, visit grandrapidswhitewater.org.
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