2022 White River Watershed Collaborative Highlights

Photo by Charles Chandler

The White River Watershed Collaborative championed an effective year of conservation in the watershed. This burgeoning collaborative of nonprofit organizations, state and federal agencies, municipalities, and community leaders continued to work together to collect baseline data, initiate strategic restoration efforts, and educate and engage the watershed’s community. Here are some highlights from the past year:

• 115 road-stream crossing surveys were surveyed to identify and prioritize future aquatic organism passage work. 
• 24 miles of habitat mapping was completed, a procedure that allows resource managers to look at a whole stream system to understand what habitat may be abundant or lacking to inform future in-stream habitat projects. 
• Trout Unlimited and the White River Watershed Partnership deployed two real-time monitoring stations measuring temperature, depth, and conductivity on the South Branch White and Carlton Creek. These stations provide publicly accessible, real-time data available online here. 
• The Collaborative worked with partners at the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and University of Minnesota to evaluate the use of thermal imaging with drones to provide a better understanding of where key coldwater inputs are so that resource managers can better strategize the restoration and protection work they do. 
• 30 volunteers came from all over for a tree planting this past fall. Hailing from Pentwater, Reed City, Holland, Grand Rapids and even Illinois, it was evident how meaningful this watershed is for so many – locals and visitors alike. Volunteers of all ages planted 10 large river birch trees at the White River Roadside Park to add diversity, climate resilience, shade, stability, and woody habitat to the river.
• Trout Unlimited and Land Conservancy of West Michigan planted an additional 1,000 trees on a protected conservation easement on 5 Mile Creek in the upper reaches of the watershed. These tree plantings were made possible by funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the U.S. Forest Service. 
• 10 volunteers spent two days working on Martin Creek, a high-quality tributary to the White River, to plant riparian plants and install woody debris to enhance fish habitat.
• Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited hosted another successful White River Cleanup, and 15 volunteers removed trash and debris that posed a threat to fish and wildlife as well as river recreators. 
• West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) launched an economic impact study of the White River. With funding through Fremont Area, Oceana, and Newaygo Community Foundations, WMSRDC hired Grand Valley State University to complete the study to help provide an understanding of how much the White River and its users contribute to the local economy.  

It was a busy and productive 2022 and momentum continues to grow in the White River watershed. The Collaborative is looking forward to a fruitful 2023 working with its members and stewards throughout the watershed.  For more details on what the group has been up to, visit https://swmtu.org/conservation/white-river/2022-white-river-watershed-collaborative-highlights

The work of the White River Watershed Collaborative is funded in part by a grant from Fremont Area Community Foundation.

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