Grand River mussel relocation project concludes ahead of schedule

Grand River mussel relocation project concludes ahead of schedule

Published on September 16, 2024

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Whitewater are pleased to announce significant progress in the mussel relocation project, a crucial component of the Grand River Revitalization Initiative. Most of the relocation effort wrapped up Friday, September 13. The project, which began in August, moved at an unprecedented pace and concluded much earlier than initially expected. The dry weather and low-flow of the river allowed BioSurvey's teams to substantially accelerate its work from the original mid-October completion estimate.

During the operation, six dive/snorkel teams searched an area about the size of eight football fields in the lower reach of the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. The preliminary count shows that crews searched and relocated 38 federally endangered Snuffbox Mussel (Epioblasma Triquetra), 2,069 State threatened and endangered mussels, and 6,933 other common mussel species. Each were recovered, identified, counted, marked for future monitoring and relocated. Crews moved each to nearby locations in the Grand River that offered suitable habitat for the species.

"We're thrilled with the rapid progress of our mussel relocation efforts," said Michael Staal, project manager for the City's Engineering Department. "The dedication and efficiency of our specialized crews put us well ahead of schedule, allowing us to minimize disruption to the river ecosystem and move forward with our restoration plans once the remaining permits are secured."

Of the 14,000-15,000 mussels in the project area, approximately 9,000 were successfully relocated. The remaining mussels will either be relocated next year or are located in areas that were unsafe for the divers.

The mussel relocation project is a critical step in the larger Grand River Revitalization Initiative, which aims to revitalize the Grand River and enhance recreational opportunities while preserving the river's ecological balance.

"This project demonstrates our commitment to responsible environmental stewardship as we work to restore the Grand River," added Matt Chapman, Executive Director of Grand Rapids Whitewater. "With the completion of this phase of mussel relocation we are now focusing on the final steps in the process to begin removing the four low-head dams and bringing the rapids back to Grand Rapids.

The City and Grand Rapids Whitewater continue to work through complex state and federal permitting processes to receive the necessary permits for construction to occur in the river. Pending the outcome of that process, lower reach construction activities could begin in the summer of 2025.

To learn more about River For All and its transformational projects, please visit riverforall.com or follow it on Facebook.

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