RiverUp! is a river renaissance.

RiverUp! is part of a community movement to embrace and celebrate the assets of the Huron River for the benefit of local economies and residents, and conservation of our shared natural heritage. We can’t imagine Ann Arbor without a healthy, vital Huron River. Or Ypsilanti. Or Milford. We have the good fortune to live in splendid communities abundant with natural amenities — none more so than the Huron River.

Yet we stand at critical point in the life of this incredible resource. We can be indifferent, taking for granted that a healthy Huron will always be there, meandering along its 100-mile length through five counties. Or we can seize the opportunity to ensure that the Huron River is ready to enjoy for today’s and tomorrow’s children.

A vision. A goal. A plan.

RiverUp! is our answer to Congressman John D. Dingell’s call for the development and implementation of a substantive plan for the Huron River’s future. HRWC, along with a core group of community and business leaders recently began to formulate a strategy to realize the goal of a vibrant, robust and fully restored river – a destination for residents and tourists.

RiverUp! has three long-term objectives:

• FixUp! by investing in recreation infrastructure
• CleanUp! by improving the ecological health of the river
• BuildUp! by facing our communities toward the river and transform the river corridor into a premier destination

Download the Year 1 Report and 3-5 Year Plan for RiverUp!

CatchUp! on all of the activity. Here’s a sampling of what’s going on:

We’re investing in river recreation ~

• by planning and constructing safer, more accessible portages for paddlers (See the site design drawings of the Superior Dam portage that will be in place for the next paddling season)
• by building the Huron River Water Trail

We’re improving the health of the river ~

• by moving contaminated riverfront properties like the former coal gasification plant in Ann Arbor (now owned by DTE) towards clean-up and restoration
• by stabilizing eroding streambanks to protect property and provide habitat, and restoring stream flows through improved dam management

We’re transforming the river corridor ~

• by joining with Ypsilanti-area partners to create a river district that connects the City to the river and the City to the Township for more recreation, transportation and local business opportunities
• by conceiving a new Art on the River trail

A Successful Launch

RiverUp! was launched in August 2011 at Ann Arbor’s Island Park along the Huron River.

Thirty-five people joined the morning bus tour of RiverUp! efforts in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to build canoe and kayak portages, reclaim old industrial properties, and shape a Huron River Water Trail.  More than 100 people came out to kick-off the initiative and hear from Congressman John Dingell, Jerry Jung, Tom Woiwode, John Hieftje, Tom Buhr, and Laura Rubin. A highlight was a group of children from the City of Ann Arbor canoe camp talking about why they like the Huron River (“because I just like doing lots of stuff on it”).

The Twitter stream, photos and short video of the launch capture the energy of the event.

Local and national (USA Today and the AP wire) media outlets spread the good news story via radio, television, and print and online newspapers. Read the article from annarbor.com.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Riggs, RiverUp! Manager.