Participants in the Grand River Expedition will arrive in Grand Haven on Monday afternoon, completing a 226 mile journey to bring attention to stewardship of the Grand River. Over 60 people have completed the entire journey, with at least 300 people completing at least one segment of the Expedition.

The kayaks and canoes of the Expedition will depart from Ottawa County Riverside Park at 9:00 Monday morning on the last of their 12 travel days down the Grand. The Annis Water Research Institute and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol will travel with the group on this day. The Expedition will stop for lunch at Indian Point before continuing to a gathering point near Mill Point Park. At 2:00 they will be escorted by the Coast Guard from that point down the main channel of the Grand River to the City Marina at Chinook Pier. The Expedition will be joined by the AWRI research vessel, DJ Angus, carrying local dignitaries. The anticipated arrival time at Chinook Pier is 2:45-3:00.

In addition to the arrival of the Expedition, exhibits by many organizations concerned with stewardship of the Grand River will be available from 1-4 pm Monday afternoon near Waterfront Stadium and closing ceremonies will begin at 3:30 pm on The Plaza north of The Chamber. The Expedition will be welcomed by Mayor Bergman and Rix Robinson (aka Dave Siebold) and preliminary findings from the research activities on the Grand River will be presented.

Those iinterested in paddling with the group can sign on as a day-paddler by arriving at the Grand Lady Campground near Jenison on Sunday morning by 6:30, or Monday morning at Riverside Park by 7:00. The cost for a day paddler is $10 per day to cover insurance and water bottle. Non-paddlers can meet the group on Monday afternoon in Grand Haven, or support them with signs and greetings along the river. Their final course is river right through Indian Channel to Spring Lake’s Mill Point.