We’ve had a run of luck since our first day on the water and our initial bonding activity waiting out a storm under a bridge. Since then, rain has held off during the paddling day. But today we knew a storm was on the way, but hoped to arrive at Chief Hazy Cloud Park in Ada Township before it hit. About half way on our afternoon journey we felt the first raindrops – light at first, then a deluge. Finally we got to the Fulton Street (Highway 21) bridge and many of us hung out there until it passed. After about 35 minutes under the bridge, the rain stopped and we finished the last half mile of the day. Ada Township Parks (our hosts) are truly saints with hot coffee waiting for us after we took out. (Click on image to view larger version)

I have been frequently asked about the dam situation in Grand Rapids. As many people know, there is both the 6th Street dam (not navigable) and the low-head, or coffer dams between the dam and the Public Museum. Four of the coffers are evident, and Wendy Ogilvie from FTC&H tells me there’s a fifth that’s barely visible (obviously, since I don’t notice it on my trips this way). Local boaters have found the spot at river right where the coffers are broken out, and put in below the 6th Street dam and paddle down through the coffers via the broken out sections. Others just go through them in the middle. Either approach, in my opinion, is an avoidable risk. Have I gone through them? Yes – multiple times. Have I been caught by a coffer? Yes, and it scared me enough to realize how powerful they can be.


Journalists and local whitewater groups have voiced concerns about the safety of these dams, and suggest paddlers avoid this section of the river until the City of Grand Rapids takes action. For those planning the Lower Grand River section of the Expedition, this presented a difficult situation. In the end, and with advice from other groups, a solution was reached. This Saturday (July 24) canoes and kayaks will pull out at the last option (Canal Park boat landing) and all boats will be transported by Powers Outdoors to Ah-Nab-Awen Park where we’ll put in and go over the last two dams (the smallest and most broken out from my last observation a couple of weeks ago). This will give everyone a very good urban kayaking experience, and also draw attention (isn’t that what the Expedition is about?) to the situation of the coffer dams as a safety issue and detriment to use of this wonderful natural resource in Grand Rapids. (Click on image to view larger version)

I’ve taken some heat on the Expedition over this plan. Yesterday I was told “we did it in 2000”, which we know always makes it a good thing to do. And “they’re taking away our fun” (I thought public awareness was our objective – I must have been mistaken). Some might suggest we are taking away a section of the river from the Expedition, apparently making the Grand River experience incomplete. Here’s where I come down – I would rather make your Grand River experience incomplete than watch someone drag your body out from under a coffer.