GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Although Grand Rapids resident Maria Hampton is just learning about the idea of restoring the rapids to a portion of the Grand River, she's on board with the idea.
"It's just an opportunity to grow the city," said Hampton.
Last year, The City of Grand Rapids withdrew a permit to restore whitewater to Grand Rapids by removing four low-head dams from Pearl St. to Michigan St., putting the project on hold.
"I don't know if I would be out there, however I would love to see other people enjoying the water," said Hampton.
The restoration project was first proposed to make water recreation more accessible, and improve ecosystems in the Grand River.
A year later, the city has a new plan for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to review, with the application for the project being sent out on Wednesday.
"It will look a lot more natural, will be removing those low head dams, will have the natural bolder look and feel of rapids some plant life some native vegetation so I really think trying to re embrace the river as a natural feature," said Kate Berens, Deputy City Manager.
"One thing you'd see the features are in slightly different places, then maybe the prior design, we also have different kind of size and magnitude of wave structures," said Berens. "So there will be waves and whitewater that are caused by big boulders that are going to be placed in the river, the scale of some of those boulder features is smaller than what had been previously envisioned."
The City is also planning to attract wildlife and make the Grand River more user friendly by adding boulders and structures, even helping with fish passage.
"This summer, still, we're hopeful that we're going to be able to do some pre-work largely around relocating some threatened and endangered mussel species that are in the Grand River. And then that will clear the way again, subject to getting all the permits we need. That would clear the way for us to really start the construction in earnest that removal of the low head dams and the placement of the big boulders next summer."
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