Conceptual photograph of 'landscaped' 4th St dam.

Or this lowhead dam?

Existing dam, known by river experts as a 'drowning machine.'

Could Grand Rapids’ benefit from a picturesque new tourist attraction?  A wild, scenic, cascading waterfall right downtown?  It’s known by several names; The 6th Street Dam, 4th St. Dam, Fishing Dam and even The Falls.  The dam is appreciated by a few, ignored by most.  It was built in the mid 19th century to create a mill pond to provide water power for the huge furniture industry that GR was known for.  Today, it  simply serves the purpose of stalling seasonal anadromous fish en route to upriver spawning beds, indeed, providing a top, nationally recognized fishing hot spot (some would argue that additionally, the dam halts the lamprey eel from reaching theirs.)  But, it’s ugly and it is extremely dangerous (see Lowhead Dam Dangers on this web site). It does also create a vast pond that provides an urban recreational opportunity for water skiers, rowers and sea kayakers upstream at Riverside Park.  But, the dam kills people just as dead as if they went over Niagara Falls.

Is there an environmentally friendly way to mitigate the inherent dangers of the Fishing Dam and keep the existing river recreation?  GRWW believes so.  Face it! We propose* ‘facing’ the dam with landscape boulders,  stone and concrete made to look ‘real’ (see conceptual photo above -top.)  You can view such sculpted masonry work at various John Ball Zoo exhibits, Michigan’s Adventure Park and even miniature golf establishments.  By breaking up the perfect recirculating hydraulics of the lowhead dam, the flow is rendered harmless, save for a few bumps or bruises that might be experienced by a whitewater enthusiast.  The dam would also be a boon to our downtown economy, creating an important destination for visitors.  No one can say exactly how many jobs and businesses would be created, but it’s safe to say that everyone already living and working downtown would be do better.

Let’s face it, this just might be the win win solution we need.

Read more about the proposed changes to the Grand River downtown, please read Grand River Whitewater Park Preferred Alternative on this web site.

* GRWW does not propose going forward with any such alterations to the river or it’s surroundings until the proper environmental impact studies have been completed.

“I thought maybe it was gonna be a little dam that I could go over like the whitewater rafters.  It didn’t work out like that,”  said Joe Hileski.  “I almost died.”  On Wednesday April 8, 2009, Joe set out for an adventure on the Grand River. 

Photos by Paul L. Newby II | The Grand Rapids Press

He purchased a $20 rubber raft from Meijer and launched at Riverside Park.  “Next thing I know that dam came up awful fast and there was no stopping it.  I went all the way to the bottom and hit my head on a rock.  Somehow, miraculously, I found that raft and clung to it.”

To find out how Joe was rescued by two fishermen, read the MLive, Grand Rapids Press article  http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/04/man_in_raft_rescued_from_grand.html

“The ‘preferred alternative’ outlines 2 phases for improving recreational opportunities in the Grand River. Phase 1 consists of two tasks: modifying the dams downstream of the 4th street dam…”

“The Green Grand Rapids process is a process employed to engage citizens in the creation of a new master plan and zoning ordinance. The City is required to update its Master Plan and Parks and Recreation Plan every five years. Instead of passing a short bureaucratic resolution to update the plans, the City of Grand Rapids Planning Department and Parks and Recreation Department view this as an opportunity to initiate a citywide green infrastructure master planning process called Green Grand Rapids that will focus on quality of life and the physical development of community infrastructure as it relates to greening, connectivity, natural systems, the Grand River, recreation and public health.” Visit Green Grand Rapids

A meeting was held Wed. Jan 14, 2009 at the Eberhard Center, GVSU, Grand Rapids, to discuss the following alternatives regarding recreational use of the Grand River, downtown;

· Enhance the small, beautification dams downstream of the 4th Street dam to create a rapids experience, and possibly construct an easily accessible and safe portage around the 4th Street dam.

· Construct a manmade kayak course, parallel to the river, through Sixth Street Park on the east side or at the location of the Fish Ladder on the west side.

· Modify the 4th Street dam by partially removing a center or side section of the dam, to funnel the flow and create a challenging kayaking course for experienced and recreational paddlers.

· Completely remove the 4th Street dam and construct rapids at various challenge levels to allow a complete river run through the Grand Rapids area with no portages required.

Over 60 kayakers, canoeists and fishermen attended. Most agreed the fishing dam should stay.

On March 23, 2009, we received the following good news, a notification, regarding the Grand River Recreation Opportunities project, from Ms. Wendi Ogilvie, senior environmental specialist with FTC&H, the engineering firm hired to consult with Green Grand Rapids:

To Grand River project contacts, below is an updated schedule for the Grand River Recreation Opportunities project since many of you haven’t heard from me for awhile. We have been working with the various interest groups to get a draft report to the City for their initial approval of the “preferred alternative”. As noted in the schedule, the draft report will be posted on the Green Grand Rapids website for the public’s review early next month.

The “preferred alternative” outlines 2 phases for improving recreational opportunities in the Grand River. Phase 1 consists of two tasks: modifying the dams downstream of the 4th street dam to allow small watercrafts to float through downtown, and creating additional access points for portages around the 4th street dam and other places to enter and leave the river safely. Phase 2 includes the construction of a rapids run on the east side of the 4th street dam, the extent of which will be explored through a more in-depth feasibility study. The Final Report will include the benefits and challenges of the project, examples from other cities, illustrations, concept level cost estimates, and potential funding sources.
3/27 – Send draft River Recreation Opportunities Report to City for review.
4/10 – Respond to comments and submit to City for final approval.
4/15 – Finalize report with illustrations and related resources and send to City to post on the Green Grand Rapids website.
4/15 – Email notice of website posting of draft River Recreation Opportunities Final Report to stakeholder groups for comments, due by 4/27.
4/28 to 5/8 – Revise and finalize River Recreation Opportunities Report.
5/13 – Present “preferred alternative” at breakout session during Green Gathering #3
Thanks to all who have contributed ideas and energy to this process. Looking forward to seeing you at the May 13, Green Gathering #3.
Wendy

Picture this. Below are before and after photos of a low head dam modification project completed on the Midtown Dam on the Red River in Fargo, ND.

Never again will a visitor to our city be overheard saying, “…but, where are the rapids? Why do they call it Grand Rapids?!”