Case Study: Returning the Rapids to Eaton Rapids

The community of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, looked to improve the quality of life in their community by redeveloping their riverfront, one of its greatest assets.

The community of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, looked to improve the quality of life in their community by redeveloping their riverfront, one of its greatest assets. The project aimed to improve river access for recreation and eliminate safety hazards posed by the West Low-Head Dam, building on the community’s already successful river tourism.

The project, completed in 2016, removed and re-engineered the West Low-Head Dam along the Grand River to create river access points for water-based activities and enhanced fishing. The project brings back the rapids and restores the ecosystem, improving water quality, fish habitat, and recreational safety with a step-pool fish ramp and canoe/kayak river rapids elements. Beginner classes in whitewater paddling consisting of eddying, lining, poling upstream, ferrying across current, and the Eskimo Roll can be taught in the rapids channel and step pools. New fish migration openings allow for the migration of species upstream, further enhancing the fishing opportunities and creating guided fishing tours with recreational land-based casting, with an emphasis on fly fishing and canoe/kayak-based fishing excursions. The project has resulted in a healthier community, increased fishing and paddling tourism, improved water quality on the Grand River, and created an Activity Center at the Mill Street Landing.

“Ten years ago, you would never see people down here. Now because of the removal of the dam and creation of the rapids, on any given Saturday or Sunday this place is packed with 200-300 paddlers and visitors. This could be a blueprint for other communities now. This is a half a million dollar project that we did for less than $200,000, it could be replicated elsewhere.” - Russ Hicks, President of the Quiet Water Society

Project Details

• Project: Return the Rapids to Eaton Rapids
• Project Type: Environmental
• Project Location: Eaton Rapids, MI
• Crowdfunding Raise: $55,096
• Crowdgranting Match: $50,000
• Patrons: 146
• Leveraged Funding: $300,000
• Total Project Estimate: $400,000

About Public Spaces, Community Places

Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) is our crowdgranting partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This crowdgranting initiative provides matching grant funds to eligible projects that improve public space in Michigan. Projects can receive a matching grant of up to $50,000 if they reach their crowdfunding goal.