GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Whitewater is on track to begin restoring the rapids next summer after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $2.1 million in grants to prevent the spread of sea lamprey.

The effort was highlighted by U.S. Rep. Hilary Scholten at a press conference Monday, Aug. 18, at Lyons Square Park overlooking the Grand River, where city officials and partner organization Grand Rapids Whitewater hope to soon put the rapids back into Grand Rapids.

“We know that sea lamprey are a destructive force all over West Michigan and the Great Lakes region,” Scholten said. “In just one year, they are capable of killing 40 pounds’ worth of our native fish. Before sea lamprey control, they killed so many fish that entire fisheries collapsed and tens of thousands of fishe

See Full Page