Once restricted with deteriorating infrastructure, a stretch of the Kalamazoo River in Plainwell, Michigan, has returned to a thriving, free-flowing ecosystem. Federal, state and local partners, community members and others gathered Thursday morning near the riverbank, just northwest of where M-89 crosses U.S. 131, to mark the moment, see the sights and talk about what they’ve learned and what’s ahead.

The Plainwell Dam Removal and River Restoration Project, a $7 million multiagency initiative, removed aging infrastructure and revitalized nearly a mile of river and surrounding habitat. It’s an effort that will enhance safety, improve fish and wildlife habitat and provide recreational and economic opportunities for the surrounding community.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Scott Bowen said the DNR manages more than 200 dams across the state, and outcomes like this are exactly what the agency strives for with removal/replacement projects.

“Dams are a big challenge for the state of Michigan and for the DNR, especially when many dams weren’t designed for their current uses or to current construction standards,” Bowen said. “The thorough partnership approach to the Plainwell Dam Removal and River Restoration Project and the commitment from all to protect public safety, conserve natural resources and boost outdoor recreation opportunities is a model I hope we can replicate.”

He also noted that the project shows what is possible with proper investment, acknowledging the $15 million Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed in her budget for the next fiscal year to help address some of the state's high-priority dams.

“We appreciate that support from the governor and from legislators as we continue the urgent work of assessing the condition and sustainability of these dams,” Bowen said.

The Plainwell Dam project was not a quick fix, and ventures of this complexity require multiple partnerships.

Jennifer Tewkesbury, Area of Concern Coordinator with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, said the Kalamazoo River was designated as an Area of Concern in 1987 due to the contamination by PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) as a byproduct of the operation of multiple paper mills and paper recycling industries along the river.

“While these industries provided good jobs and benefits to the local economy, that prosperity came at a cost to the natural resource,” she said. “Further, the multiple dam structures that provided power for these facilities became physical barriers to a naturally functioning river system.

“EGLE would like to recognize our sister agency, the Michigan DNR, for taking the lead role on this project, as well as the EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office for their support of the Kalamazoo River Area of Concern and the funding provided through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.”

An ecological transformation, the project:

• Restored 0.8 miles of river channel.
• Stabilized more than a mile of riverbank.
• Reestablished 15 acres of native riparian habitat.
• Expanded the floodplain by 6 acres and dramatically increased the river's capacity to store floodwaters, reducing downstream flood risk.
• Strategically placed more than 325 “rootwads” – large tree trunks with attached roots – to protect banks and provide vital fish and wildlife habitat.

Already, signs of ecological recovery are emerging, with increased sightings of smallmouth bass, turtles, osprey and other native species.

Mark Mills, regional supervisor in the DNR’s Wildlife Division, said the project was driven by agencies coming together with a shared purpose: “We weren’t just removing a dam, we were reimagining how this stretch of river could function ecologically and socially. The result is a safer, healthier and more accessible river for the people and wildlife of southwest Michigan.”

This intricate restoration is the result of a unique collaboration among local, state and federal agencies, but united by a single goal of restoring the Kalamazoo River. In addition to the DNR and EGLE, project partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Great Lakes National Program Office; the U.S. EPA Superfund program and potentially responsible parties; the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, and the Kalamazoo River Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program.

Funding was provided through a combination of sources:

• $1.9 million – Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, administered by the USEPA.
• $2 million – Kalamazoo River Natural Resource Damage Trustees.
• $2.6 million (including a $600,000 Dam Management Grant) – Michigan DNR.
• $600,000 – USEPA Superfund Site Responsible Parties.

"The completion of the Plainwell Dam restoration marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to the Great Lakes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “Supported by a $1.9 million grant from the EPA, this success underscores the power of partnership and collaboration in preserving these vital environmental, recreational and economic resources."

The DNR’s Mills agreed.

“The river is already telling us this was the right move,” said Mills. “We’re seeing several fish species returning to the water, osprey overhead and natural river processes reestablishing themselves. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how science, smart investment and cross-agency collaboration are bringing Michigan’s rivers back to life.”

The restoration of this stretch of the Kalamazoo River brings the state and partners closer to the long-term goal of returning 47 miles of river – from Morrow Dam to Lake Allegan – to a more natural, healthier condition. In addition to ecological benefits, this work supports vibrant outdoor recreation opportunities such as paddling, fishing and wildlife viewing, all of which contribute to local tourism and the regional economy.

Plainwell Kayak Company owner Lois Heuchert, a member of the project’s community advisory group, said she’s been impressed by how effectively local, state and federal government and the trustees have worked together.

“With every stretch of river restoration that gets completed, those areas become another part of a gorgeous trip through there. The work hasn’t been just about the pollutants being taken out, it’s about making sure the entire area is enhanced. Every time they’ve taken on a project, they leave it so much better than you could have imagined.”

With this stage of river restoration complete, Heuchert looks forward to sharing the experience with more paddlers on the Kalamazoo.

“To be able to run a business like this, that brings families together, that has kids putting away their phones for a few hours – people are almost transformed by the end of their floats,” she said. “They enjoy nature, they enjoy relaxing. Providing that kind of service, getting people out into all that beauty, that’s what makes our job fun!”