GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Whitewater Executive Director Matt Chapman is providing some updated details about the timeline for restoring the rapids downtown.
It was announced earlier this week that the Natural Resources Conservation Service approved more than $11 million in federal funding for the first phase of construction to start on the Grand River Restoration project. On West Michigan's Morning News, Chapman said the city recently awarded the construction contract.
"So, we've got the contractor on board. They're gearing up now," he said. "They will likely start to mobilize, and Ah-Nab-Awen Park will be used for the construction staging and access. It's really location we have to get into the river. So, there will start to be some work happening this spring in Ah-Nab-Awen Park. Bulldozers and equipment won't roll into the river itself until July 1st."
The original discussions for restoring the rapids began in 2009. Chapman told WOOD Radio there have been many obstacles to overcome and approvals to receive to get the project off the ground. One of the first things they learned was that there were endangered mussels in the river
"So, because of that, we had to follow all of the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.," he said. The act established protections for fish, wildlife and plants. "So, that requires trying to do it with the least amount of impact or damage to the mussels as possible. But in order to restore habitats and remove dams, you have to actually get out in the river."
Chapman said they relocated more than 9,000 mussels, with 38 of them classified as endangered mussels. They were removed from the construction area of the Grand River and placed in different locations.
"A big part of this project is restoring the natural habitats for fish and endangered mussel species," he said. "That was really the first step of the project. And then, this summer we'll actually get started with the actual physical removal of the dams and restructuring of the river channel."
The City of Grand Rapids is partnering with Grand Rapids Whitewater on the project. Chapman said they recently awarded a construction contract.
Chapman said construction equipment should be in the river roughly from July 1 until mid-December, depending on water levels. And then, crews will be back out in the river again in the spring of 2027. He figures the construction on the lower reach of the river should be completed after two summers of work, if all goes well.
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