07/27/2026 Meeting Minutes
I. Welcome and Introductions
A. Renee Van Houten, Don Harper, Rachel Frantz, Anthony Hernandez, Ryan Seely (Virtual), Sally Seely (virtual), Sherrill Gardiner (virtual)
B. No quorum
II. Financial Report
A. Fred is absent
B. Receipts were submitted to Barry Conservation District for grant reimbursements
III. Grant Report(s)
A. EGLE Watershed Support Grant
1. Outreach materials
a) Purchased
(1) Phone cases (received), stickers (received), banner (ordered 6/16), tent (received), table (received), shirts (ordered 7/8)
b) Unpurchased
(1) Business cards, yard signs, picture stickers & laminator
c) Renee and Rachel will meet to review budget status and order remaining items.
2. Brochure
a) River Survey Status
(1) Nashville to Thornapple Lake - completed by BCD/BCK 7/7
(2) Thornapple Lake to Bliss Park - completed by BCD/BCK 7/13
(3) Tyden Park to DNR launch at Airport Rd - BCD/BCK
(4) DNR launch (Airport Rd) to Irving Dam - BCD/BCK
(5) DNR Launch (Irving Rd) to Middleville Dam - BCD/BCK
(6) Middleville Launch to Two Rivers (Coldwater)
(7) 84th St to Camp O’Malley - Jim
(8) Camp O’Malley to Cascade Dam
(9) Tassel Park to Ada Dam - completed by Sherrill 7/25
B. Evenson Foundation
1. Rain gardens - complete
2. Educational signs - designs are complete, Rachel obtained quotes from multiple sources, the lowest price was from Vacker Sign for $1,007 but we will need to purchase wooden posts and install signs.
a) Will vote at the next meeting when we have a quorum
IV. Water Quality
A. Annual Paddle Trip, cleanup activity optional
1. Potential for chainsaw training by BCK Cisma
2. September 5th is Labor Day weekend but could present a good opportunity alternatively September 26th.
B. MiCorps Macroinvertebrate stream sampling - Fall sampling tentative 9/25-9/26 1. Six sites will be sampled by three teams followed by an identification workshop in the following weeks
C. Riverwatch
1. No update
D. Comprehensive water testing program - Re: Ron Young’s AI analysis and the existing TRWMP (2016).
V. Outreach
A. 2027 Fishing Contest/Woods and Waters Magazine Ad/Fish Stocking/Anglers
B. Bad River Documentary Showing - Renee obtain copy
C. Tabling Events
1. Kent County Fair, August 3 - 8
a) New location by Cascade Rd
b) Renee will send out request to table at fair - if you are available
2. Barry County Outdoor Youth Day, September 19
D. Municipality Chapter Groups
1. Anthony is here today interested specifically in the area between Irving Dam and Middleville
2. Potential chapters: Ada, Cascade, Caledonia, Middleville, Hastings, and Nashville
E. Thornapple River Water Trail
1. Renee will check back in with people on this
F. Mailing list improvements - Sept. 30 deadline
1. Renee and Rachel will work together to clean up drive and contact lists
G. Social Media Presence
1. Please send suggestions, ideas, ect. For social media presence
VI. Organizational Improvements:
A. Renee is attending the River Network program to strengthen watershed councils - will discuss further after the September paddle trip
VI. New Business
A. Rachel attended LGROW’s subwatershed meeting last week to discuss how GVMC can assist watershed groups and signage.
1. Matt from LGROW led the discussion about getting consistent signage such as “Entering the Thornapple River Watershed”, bridge signs on the river, etc.
B. Renee brought up an article from the Grand Rapids Press “100,000 Michiganders live downstream from old, decrepit dams” with a photo of the LaBarge dam.
1. We would like to get an update on the LaBarge dam from the new owners.
2. Don said a few years back during a heavy rain event the earthen part of the dam was saturated to a point to where the police were keeping watch.
C. McCords Creek resident reached out with concerns about creek and pond drying up.
1. Renee will reach out to Kent Conservation District to see if they are available to come and visit the site.
VII. Upcoming Events
A. Annual Paddle/Cleanup, September 5 or 26
VIII. Meeting adjourn at 7:26 PM
A. Next Meeting: Monday, August 24, 6:30 PM, Kent District Library Caledonia Branch, 6260 92nd St SE, Caledonia