Experience the Thornapple River

I have attached a piece (below) from the Thornapple River Expedition that may be of interest to you!  One piece of the river tour goes through Cascade.............  Sounds like a fun river trip!!!

Expedition and Clean Up Planned for the Thornapple River

Contact:  Joanne Barnard (269) 948-8056 or joanne.barnard@mi.nacdnet.net

The Thornapple River Watershed Council is busy this year planning for the first ever Thornapple River Expedition, scheduled for August 6-11, 2012 and for the 17^th Annual Thornapple River Clean Up on September 15, 2012.  Both events are aimed at raising awareness and citizen involvement in water quality issues while promoting local, family-friendly recreation.  Both events offer opportunities for individuals, groups and businesses to get involved to help showcase the river and its surrounding communities.

The Expedition will be a six-day tour of the Thornapple.  Day one will kick off with an opening luncheon and a road tour of water quality improvement projects in the upper portion of the watershed in Eaton County.  Sites include a planned 650 acre wetland restoration, Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program practices at work on farms to protect water quality, and state- and federal-sponsored projects to improve the Thornapple River.  Days two through six will be a paddling trip on the Thornapple River from Vermontville to its confluence with the Grand River in Ada.  Participants may choose to complete the whole expedition or sign up for day, half-day or multi-day trips.  Each day will include educational events focused on history, wildlife and aquatic life, water quality and river restoration projects.  Meals and camp sites are provided for registered participants.  Lunch and evening stops are planned to highlight the Thornapple’s communities and their tourism and recreation attractions.  Over 100 paddlers are expected to complete the Expedition, with dozens of community members joining in for shorter trips.  The Watershed Council is seeking volunteers and sponsors who can help organize and support meals and activities for paddlers when they arrive in each town.  For a full itinerary, registration information and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.thornappleriver.org, email TRWC@thornappleriver.org, or phone the Barry Conservation District at (269) 948-8056.  Also look for a link to our Expedition blog starting in late July at www.thornappleriver.org.

The 17^th Annual Thornapple River Clean Up, planned for Saturday, September 17, will stretch from Vermontville to Ada, including portions of the Coldwater River.  This annual event draws approximately 150 volunteers to collect trash from the river.  Each year, nearly 60 cubic yards of trash are removed from the river.  Local liveries, restaurants and businesses provide boats to carry out the clean up and lunch for volunteers after the work is completed, as well as support for waste hauling and recycling. A grant from the Great Lakes Commission to the Barry Conservation District will help defray costs for clean-up supplies and transportation.   This year, teams will start in Vermontville, Nashville, Hastings, Middleville, Alto, Alaska and Ada.  If you are interested in volunteering for the 17^th Annual Thornapple River Clean Up – either to help plan the event or to take part in it - or if you would like to support the event, contact the Watershed Council at TRWC@thornappleriver.org or phone the Barry Conservation District at (269)-948-8056.

The Thornapple River Watershed Council is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and enhancing the quality, aesthetic and recreational value of the Thornapple River Watershed through education, planning and management.