Adopt A River is a community-wide, year round effort. We do it best!

Adopt A River - Our Newest Stewardship Program.

We take a year-round, community-wide, approach toward waterways stewardship. Since our start in November 2022 it has been our practice to work with business and industry, schools and churches, civic and social clubs, local governments, families, and many individuals, to protect, care for, and our treasured and vulnerable waterways.

Via the collective efforts of a long list of great organizations and more than 1,250 volunteers we have cleared over 45 tons of litter, trash, and other unwanted debris from from our rivers, riverbanks, adjoining river trail and parks.

For the first time in many years, every river-wide obstruction was removed from the Red Cedar River beginning in west Okemos to the confluence of the Grand River, and those on the Grand River in our capital city.

We are pleased to hear so many say they don’t remember our capital city region rivers ever looking so good, nor so pleasant to enjoy. This is a testament to our community spirit and civic pride.

To sustain those remarkable gains we conduct year-round stewardship in the form of either:
1. Twice yearly community-wide events.
2. Pop up events to address hot spots as they develop.
3. Special projects management.
There is now another layer to our capital region waterways stewardship!

Adopt A River - Showcasing Our Best!

To build on our year-round waterways stewardship we are excited to introduce our Adopt A River program. It's a community-wide commitment. The area of focus currently encompasses the Grand and Red Cedar rivers flowing through our capital region.

Adopt A River is similar to Adopt A Highway. It is a voluntary program about the protecting, caring for, and improving our treasured and vulnerable waterways. Its primary focus is the collection of litter, trash, and other unwanted debris. In some areas woody debris management may be needed. In other areas work may include infrastructure or other improvements.

Become an Adopt A River partner organization. It's a prideful designation and legacy building claim. It recognizes those organizations who are environmental/conservation minded and their efforts have been constant and exemplary.

Presenting Early Adopt A River Designees.

RED CEDAR RIVER ADOPT A RIVER PARTNERS
1. Williamston Rotary and BSofA Troop 63 Red Cedar River, Dietz Road to Williamston.
2. Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity Red Cedar River, Hagadorn Drive to MSU’s shallow dam.
3. MSU Rotaract MSU's shallow dam to Kalamazoo Street bridge.
4. Red Cedar Fly Fishers Red Cedar River, Jenison Field House to Krueger’s Landing.
5. Trout Unlimited-Lansing Red Cedar River, Krueger’s Landing to Pennsylvania Avenue.
6. Potter Park Zoo Red Cedar River, Riverfront along Potter Park Zoo property.

GRAND RIVER ADOPT A RIVER PARTNERS
1. MSU Crew Club   Moorse Park Dam to S. Waverly Road
2. Halbert & Denton Families   Moorse Park Dam to Fenton Park.
3. Dart Container Moorse Park Dam to River Point Park.
4. River Town Adventures   River Point Park to Old Town Dam.

Become An Adopt A River Partner.

If your organization wishes to be participate and/or be recognized as an Adopt A River partner, drop us a note. We would love to hear from you. If you wish to adopt a stretch of river but need help, whether it be in the form of materials support, project management guidance, volunteer recognition, or other, we will gladly assist.

Join us. Let’s continue our efforts to reveal Michigan’s most scenic, varied, and pleasant, urban waterways destination. It is amazing the joy and ease in which we can accomplish great things when working together.