According to extensive research completed in our watershed, protecting future biological integrity and water quality can be accomplished by increasing forest cover in high priority areas. In 2013, the MRWA partnered with the Newaygo County NRCS and landowners to plant approximately 550 trees in Newaygo. MRWA recruited Terry Grabill's Fremont Middle School students to assist on the project. The MRWA's...[ read more ]
St. Peter's teacher, Karen Bailey, felt it would benefit her students and her school if a rain garden would be constructed in the school courtyard (above). This courtyard has roofs on three sides which directly drain storm water runoff to the central courtyard drain. She spoke to MRWA Program Director about her dream and it began to take shape. In...[ read more ]
In 2010, the MRWA Education Committee decided on natural shoreline education for one of their focus areas. Four Committee members and one staff person were trained by the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership Train-the-Trainers program in spring 2011. The Education Committee's first workshop was held on November 5, 2011 at NCRESA in Fremont (Newaygo County). Nine homeowners and six landscapers participated...[ read more ]
2004 Students from Crossroads Charter Academy in Big Rapids assisted in planting native plants in Mitchell Creek Park on May 19. Partnering on the project were Timberland RC&D, Mecosta and Muskegon Conservation Districts, City of Big Rapids and the MRWA. Funding for this project was through a Clean Michigan Initiative grant. 2005 With a donation from the Mecosta County Audubon...[ read more ]
In 2011, the MRWA was awarded a grant through the Mecosta County Community Foundation (MCCF) with matching funds from the Wege Foundation and discretionary funds from the MCCF Match Day to complete two rain gardens at the Mecosta Osceola Career Center (MOCC) in Big Rapids (Mecosta Co.). MOCC principal Steve Locke and MRWA Program Coordinator Terry Stilson coordinated the project....[ read more ]
Funding: Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Consumers Energy Foundation, Ferris Foundation, Wege Foundation For two years beginning in 2009, MRWA Program Coordinator Terry Stilson, and FSU Instructor Cindy Fitzwilliams-Heck, have worked with different FSU departments in planning a storm water project for the campus. Eighty percent of the campus's storm water drains to an Ives Avenue stream. This stream flows for...[ read more ]