8675689074_f67b3ed7bd_nJust in time for spring renewal, this edition of News to Us highlights several stories that have positive implications for our river and rivers throughout Michigan.  Greenways, volunteer opportunities, and a growing demand for dam removal are chronicled.  Also read about some of the implications of the high waters and flooding of our extremely wet April.

FLAT ROCK: Groundbreaking scheduled for final stretch of Flat Rock-Oakwoods connector trail  We are blessed with extensive trail systems along the Huron River.  With the addition of this final mile of trail in Flat Rock, there will now be 24 miles of contiguous trail from Belleville Lake to Lake Erie.  It is amenities like this that help get people to the river and enjoying the outdoors which is one of the goals of HRWC’s RiverUP! project.

Let the river run: Dam removal accelerates across Michigan  Read a nice summary of dams and dam removal efforts in Michigan.  There is growing interest and funding to support the removal of aging dams that have outlived their original purpose.  Dam removal is one of the tools of river restoration which helps support healthy populations of species that thrive in running waters like salmon, trout and walleye.

DNR reminds anglers of high water safety on rivers  It is a popular time on the river for anglers.  Fish are on the move which is an exciting time to fish.  At the same time, with the recent rains, the river is running high and fast.  Take caution when recreating in the river while waters remain high.

It’s good to get your hands dirty  Volunteers are the life blood of many environmental non-profits. The Huron River Watershed Council is no exception.  The beauty of volunteering is that both the organization and the volunteer experience benefits.  This article highlights several local non-profits discussing the value of volunteering.  Visit our Volunteer page to learn about volunteering with HRWC.

ANN ARBOR: City gets river clean-up grants worth more than $39,000  Several river clean up events will be happening in Ann Arbor this summer thanks to a grant from the DEQ.  If you are interested in volunteering to help remove trash from the river, this article lets you know how.

Grand Rapids officials looking ahead to next big storm  Throughout Michigan, we have had a very wet April.  We watched the Huron rise and fall but we were spared much of the flooding experienced on the west side of the state.  This article discusses Grand Rapid’s response to this years’ flooding.  They are thinking now about ways to protect against future events which are predicted to become more common.  Learn more about how we are working with communities in the Huron to build resilience to severe weather events affecting the river and residents here.

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