Restoring the Muskegon River to its full potential is a big job. Repairing damage done as much as a century ago takes dedication to a long-term goal and the ability to manage restoration projects of significant size. As an example, replacing damaged culverts so a stream can flow naturally without obstruction involves heavy lifting and takes heavy equipment to do the job. The final bill for major reconstruction like this typically exceeds $40,000.
In 2019, we focused on several major restoration projects including a long-term reforestation effort that involved some of our best partners and funding from state and federal agencies. We also completed two projects that demonstrate the value of community involvement. With assistance from MRWA staff and board members, dedicated volunteers drove a riverside tree and native prairie planting in Big Rapids and a lake sturgeon rescue effort on the lower Muskegon River. As always, we rely on our members to show up and we are so grateful when they do.
As an organization, we have established a reputation for reliability and as a result, have access to state and federal grants that cover the direct project costs but not the operational expenses that every effective organization carries on the balance sheet. For items like staff wages and office supplies, we need additional sources of revenue and rely on the generosity of individual donors like you.
If you decide to support the MRWA, take comfort in the fact that we are a locally based, no frills organization so your tax-deductible gift delivers maximum benefit here at home.
We need your help to maintain the organizational viability that gives us access to much larger sources of revenue to continue our work. Historically, every $10,000 we raise in unrestricted funds translates into $100,000 of grant funding invested directly into the watershed.
We hope you will agree that a donation to the MRWA makes sense for the local environment. If so, please send a check of any size to:
Muskegon River Watershed Assembly
at Ferris State University
1009 Campus Dr., JOH 200
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: 231-591-2334
Sincerely,
J. Marty Holtgren, PhD
Executive Director