Our Capital City Region Rivers Were In Terrible Condition.

There Were Only Two Options. The Choice Was Easy.

Michigan Waterways Stewards’s founder, Michael Stout, was born and raised in West Michigan. Living not far from Lake Michigan, and with the multi-generational family cottage on the shore of Lake Huron, he had a great affinity for our Great Lakes and fresh water.

An MSU graduate, Stout's career took him all over the country. He moved back to Michigan in 2022. He moved from the Twin Cities where he had picked up long-distance, solo-kayaking, for recreation and sport, and grand adventure. 

Over seven years Stout logged nearly 6,500 miles. He paddled many of the most scenic rivers and lakes across the Upper Midwest, competed in extreme races across the country, solo paddled across Lake Michigan a record seven times, and was the first to journey across Lake Superior without the assist of a chase boat or outrigger.

When Stout moved back to Michigan his training grounds became our capital city’s Grand and Red Cedar rivers. He was surprised by their terrible conditions. They were covered and lined with litter, trash, and other unwanted debris. Several area's were choked with river-wide obstructions making them difficult, dangerous, and at times impossible to navigate.

A long stretch of the Grand River in North Lansing, downriver from the Brenke Fish Ladder, was where the conditions were the worst. 

The area of greatest concern was below an old-style railroad bridge spanning the Grand River. The culmination of years of pooled litter and trash, and woody debris, made for unsightly, unhealthy, river conditions. It was difficult to imagine that such conditions existed 50 years after the declaration of the Clean Water Act, would be found here in our state's capital city, not far from the campus of Michigan State University, and the year Governor Whitmer declared as the Year Of Clean Water.

It was difficult to imagine that such conditions existed here in our capital city.

Above the riverbank, near the old-style railroad bridge, was a long-standing homeless encampment. If not cleared, much of this would be washed into the river during spring melt-off and heavy rains. Further downriver, near Tecumseh Park, is where the Grand River takes a hairpin turn before heading west to Lake Michigan. It is here, at this lowland area, everything seems to collect that has made its way downriver. Sadly, this is also a nesting area for migratory waterfowl. 

Stout tells, "Our Capital City Region rivers were far worst than what I ever imagined. The combination of our river lined with litter and trash, stagnant pools of pollution, the collection of woody debris, was so bad the area reeked of disgust. It was difficult to accept, difficult to understand, how these long-standing conditions were allowed to worsen to their current state. It was not difficult to understand why so many have vowed to never return and use our waterways again."

Stout thought to himself, "I have two options.

1. Shake my head in disbelief. Walk away and let others address it, whenever that may be.
2. Accept responsibility to solve. Not just this single locale, but the miles of our capital city region rivers that have not received the care that they deserve."

He adds, "The decision was easy. To walk away was never an option."

This was the start of Michigan Waterways Stewards and the transformation of our Capital City Region's rivers.

Many Hands Makes Light Work.

The Transformation of Our Capital City's Rivers Began.

The evening after clearing the old ADBF railroad bridge.

The clearing of the abandoned homeless encampment near the ADBF railroad bridge.

The rescue of the Tecumseh Park migratory waterfowl nesting area.

Reimagine • Rediscover • Reconnect

Here in our Capital City Region we now offer Michigan's most scenic, pleasant, and varied urban waterways destination. Join us in our efforts to make Michigan's waterways the envy of our Great Lakes states. Below are a just a few pictures of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers flowing through our capital city.

To learn more about Michigan Waterways Stewards's president and founder, Michael Stout, its board of directors, and all-star advisory council, click here.

---