Rapids in Grand River gets Gov support

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - When Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder mentioned a plan to put the rapids back in the Grand River in Grand Rapids during his State of the State speech, it provided momentum for the $27 million project.

But it may still take years to happen.

Chip Richards, the project's founder, was thrilled and surprised the governor mentioned the project. "To come out so early and so enthusiastically, there might have been some cheering in the room."

The idea is to restore the river to its natural state, attracting more people and business to the area at the same time.

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Photos: Grand Rapids cityscapes

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Officials with the Department of Natural Resources told 24 Hour News 8 that projects of this magnitude take years. The first step would be to remove the dams in the river, then add boulders and create a whitewater rafting course.

If this happens, the face of the Grand River would change. Fisherman George Aulbach said it sounds like a good concept, but he wants more information.

"I like the idea of it, for the originality of it, for the way it used to be," he said. "I'd like to be able to see a better picture of what they anticipate being down here before I agree 100%."