Inaugural Lower Grand River Watershed Jamboree
On September 13, 2018 watershed groups across the Lower Grand River watershed came together to collaborate, share accomplishments and struggles, and to meet the public. There were representatives from the Rogue River, Plaster Creek, Indian Mill Creek, Flat River, Buck Creek, Coldwater River, Sand Creek, Bass River, Deer Creek, Bear Creek, Thornapple River and Rush Creek watersheds, who brought displays, brochures, and other materials to help spread information and involve the public in their work.
After the meeting, the public was invited to join the fun for free hot dogs, games, macroinvertebrate identification, soil painting, fly fishing for land trout taught by Trout Unlimited, and live music by the B-side Growlers.
There are 31 sub-watersheds within the Lower Grand River watershed, only 11 of which have established watershed groups or representatives. LGROW is here to assist watershed groups with their watershed management plans.
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Septic Smart Week September 17-21
One in five U.S. homes have septic systems. Yours may be one of them. If your septic system is not properly maintained you may be risking your family’s health, hurting the environment, and flushing thousands of dollars down the drain.
If you aren't sure if you have a septic system, look at your last water bill, if there is no sewer charge - or if you do not get a water bill - you have a septic system!
Learn more here
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Watershed & Partner News
Join the Friends of Indian Mill Creek meeting Tuesday, October 23rd at Richmond Park in Grand Rapids Michigan from 2pm - 4pm. The meeting will be followed by a FREE Citizen Science Workshop from 4pm - 6pm, that will teach citizens how to assess stream health by habitat assessment and identifying macroinvertebrates.
Learn more here
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Lower Grand River Cleanups
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On Saturday, September 8, volunteers spent the morning helping to clean up the Grand River and its waterways through WMEAC’s 15th annual Mayors' Grand River Cleanup. Mayor Bliss from the City of Grand Rapids joined LGROW, Friends of Indian Mill Creek, and other volunteers at two sites on Indian Mill Creek, where they filled bags with trash from the creek and its banks (photographed above). Bottles, cans and other recyclables were recycled, while the rest of the garbage was collected by the City of Grand Rapids. The following Saturday, September 15th, the 23rd Annual Thornapple River Cleanup and 1st Annual Rogue River Cleanup took place. Volunteers and neighbors got in kayaks and canoes to remove trash, tires, bottles, and anything else from the water ways.
Garbage can enter our creeks and rivers from direct dumping, but trash in the storm sewer system can also be a source. One way you can help keep our waterways clean throughout the year is by keeping any storm drains in front of your home, school, or work clear of debris that might clog the grate or get washed into the system and out into our rivers and streams.
Check back next year for cleanups at www.LGROW.org/events
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Top: Alaska crew at the Thornapple River clean up and trash collected in dumpster
Bottom: Rogue River cleanup participants and trash collected in truck
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Tracking Monarch Butterfly Migration
Weekly Migration News: August 23 - November 15, 2018
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Report your sightings each fall and spring as the monarchs travel to and from Mexico. Track migration on real-time migration maps and follow the migration news. Fall migration extends from August to November; spring migration from March to June. Find out what to report each spring and fall. Scientists rely on the help of citizen scientists to understand the monarch’s conservation needs. Your observations make a valuable contribution — and help tell the dramatic story of the monarch’s journey to Mexico. More…
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Click the map to view this years migration and to report your sightings.
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Imagine a Day Without Water -Trivia Night
10/10/2018 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Harmony Hall Brewing ( map) For more details click here
Kent Conservation District Fall Native Plant Sale
10/13/2018 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Kent Conservation District Offices ( map) For more details click here
River City Water Festival
10/18/2018 - 10/19/2018
Grand Rapids Public Museum ( map) GRWAMC Masquerade Waltz Ball
10/20/2018 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Sweet House ( map) For more details click here
Friends of Indian Mill Creek Meeting & Citizen Science Workshop
10/23/2018 2:00 PM -6:00 PM
Richmond Park ( map) For more details click here
West Michigan Conservation Network Fall Feature
11/02/2018 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Montcalm Area Career Center ( map) For more details click here
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2019 LGROW Membership Drive
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LGROW Future Goals
- Citizen outreach and education
- Increase membership
- Provide technical assistance to communities and local watershed groups
- Partnering with local municipalities and environmental organizations
- Continue to improve watershed quality
Membership Levels
| Communities |
$400 |
| Subwatershed Groups, Organizations, & Businesses |
$100 |
| Standard Member |
$25 |
| Student Member |
$10 |
| *Individual Subwatershed Member |
Free |
All new members will receive a free Great Lakes, Grand River transfer sticker (pictured below) *Note that the actual sticker will be white*
Memberships renew October 2019
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Become a Watershed Warrior
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Questions or comments?
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