Grand River/Grand Rapids Urban Waters Federal Partnership

Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP)

The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) was established in 2011 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconnect urban communities, particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed, with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies. The Partnership also collaborates with community-led revitalization efforts to improve the Nation’s water systems and promote their economic, environmental and social benefits. The Partnership is supported by 15 federal agencies and more than 28 nongovernmental organizations.

Grand Rapids/Grand River Urban Waters

In May 2013, federal, state, and local partners gathered in Grand Rapids to celebrate the designation of the Grand River as a new urban waters’ federal designation site. For ten years, partners in the Grand River/Grand Rapids region have worked together to restore the river and engage the community in the watershed. The current partnership’s priorities are:

• Protect and enhance watershed values, including water quality.

• Provide public education about the historic, ecological, recreational, and economic values of the river and its tributaries.

• Develop individual and collective stewardship for watershed values.

• Promote recreational use and enhancement of public facilities, information, and safety.

• Coordinate all sub-watershed groups for the Grand River.

EPA Environmental Justice and UWFP

The Grand River/Grand Rapids Urban Waters Federal Partnership works to protect, restore, and revitalize urban water sources, while pursing environmental justice in the Lower Grand River Watershed. Engaging with community members throughout the watershed strengthens community resiliency, and helps create a vision that the waterways belong to everyone.

Grand Rapids UWFP Work Plan

Local partners involved in the West Michigan Project Network Team came together from 2020-2023 to develop a work plan that defines goals, details key partners, summarizes priority projects, and specifies milestones for project accomplishments. The Work Plan can be found here.

10-Year Urban Waters Federal Partnership Commemoration

On Friday, October 6th, 2023, LGROW and local partners convened a group of federal, state, and local organizations to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) designation of Grand River/Grand Rapids. The UWFP is an EPA led national program started in 2011, to provide support for the restoration of major urban watersheds across the U.S.

The commemoration on October 6th included presentations from State elected representative Senator Debbie Stabenow, local environmental organizations, and federal organizations that included U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A river walk tour through the downtown stretch of Grand Rapids followed the event where City Engineers lead the attendees through the opportunity sites for restoration along the rivers edge.

Please see below for pictures of the event.