GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The public is being invited to provide feedback on the environmental impact of a plan to restore the Grand River’s rapids in downtown Grand Rapids.
The city of Grand Rapids is seeking $11 million in financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the project, which will include removing four low-head dams from just north of Bridge Street to Fulton Street and adding about 20,000 tons of natural rock and boulders to the river.
Before the USDA can consider funding the project, an environmental assessment must be completed of the project’s environmental impacts, and the public must be provided a chance to comment, according to a news release from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The environmental assessment covers all environmental and cultural impacts anticipated from the proposed project, including air quality, noise, land use and public health.
The USDA opened the 30-day public comment period on Sept. 15, and the public can submit their comments online, through this form, or by mailing in written comments to the USDA.
Mailed comments must be addressed to the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service, ATTN: State Resource Conservationist, at 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 250, East Lansing, MI 48823-6321.
The goal of the dam removal project is to enhance aquatic habitat for native Great Lakes fish and mussel species, and to increase public access and recreational use of the river. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) signed off on the project’s permit request in December.
The project is part of a broader Grand River restoration initiative being led by the city of Grand Rapids and nonprofit partner Grand Rapids Whitewater. Overall, the project is expected to cost roughly $20 million.
Grand Rapids Whitewater is working through the final review process for approval from the NRCS, which is a must for the project to move forward. Mike Staal, river restoration project manager, said the review is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.
The city and Grand Rapids Whitewater announced in April they had to withdraw a request for construction bids due to an “ongoing delay” in the NRCS review of the project permit.
Copies of the draft environmental assessment for the Grand River dam removal are available online, at this link. There are also printed copies available at the Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library St. NE; the West Leonard library, 1017 Leonard St. NW; the Seymour library, 2350 Eastern Ave. SE; and the Yankee Clipper library, 2025 Leonard St. NE.
Once the public comment period is complete, a final version of the environmental assessment plan will be submitted with the project’s funding application to the USDA.