Overview
Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is preparing a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Grand River Upper Reach Revitalization: Sea Lamprey Control and Habitat Improvement Project (“Project”) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The EIS will evaluate the impacts of the removal of the 6th Street Dam, which will include alternatives to install a new structure that will primarily prevent sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an invasive nonindigenous species, from migrating upstream. The Project must ensure that native aquatic species can continue to access upstream habitats at least as effectively as currently provided by the 6th Street Dam fish ladder, implement effective sea lamprey control, enhance public safety, and, when possible, restore aquatic habitat. If implemented, the Project is expected to have adverse effects on existing healthy mussel populations, including the federally endangered snuffbox mussel (Epioblasma triquetra), and several state-listed mussel species.
In 2019, the USACE announced its intent to prepare an EIS on behalf of the GLFC for habitat restoration, invasive species control, and potential modifications to the 6th Street Dam in the Grand River. After this initial scoping period, the Project was put on hold so that other local work that may influence the available alternatives could be progressed. During this pause, USACE and its Project partners continued to refine the Project proposal and its alternatives. Since 2019, significant statutory, regulatory, and administrative changes have affected the Project, including amendments to the NEPA in 2023, the withdrawal of NEPA regulations by the Council on Environmental Quality, and the publication of updated NEPA regulations by USACE in 2025. This renewed public scoping effort responds to these changes and to Project developments since the original Notice of Intent (NOI) was published on March 15, 2019, and clarifies that USACE is now the Lead Federal Agency responsible for developing the Record of Decision (ROD).
The renewed effort also seeks to clarify how the Project aligns with the ongoing Lower Grand River Habitat Restoration Project, which is located downstream of the 6th Street Dam. While the Lower Grand River project was originally included in the initial NOI, it is now being undertaken as a separate project by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Proposed Project
The Grand River Upper Reach Revitalization: Sea Lamprey Control and Habitat Improvement Project is a multipurpose restoration initiative that intends to remove the existing concrete low-head dam (6th Street Dam), located downstream of the 6th Street Bridge. After the dam is removed, the Project would involve construction and operation of a barrier that is specifically designed to prevent sea lamprey from entering reaches of the Grand River upstream of Grand Rapids. Alternatives consider actions to improve the riverbed, restore bedrock habitat, and reestablish more natural rapids, thereby enhancing aquatic habitat.
Location
River: Grand River
City: Grand Rapids, Michigan
County: Kent County
Study Area: The Project area encompasses the reach of the Grand River extending approximately from Ann Street to just downstream of Bridge Street in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Purpose and Need
Purpose
The purpose of the Project is to address significant public safety concerns associated with the aging 6th Street Dam by replacing it with a purpose-built sea lamprey barrier, restoring rapids and riverine flow, and enhancing bedrock habitat, recreational opportunities, and the natural character of the Grand River in Grand Rapids. Over time, the Grand River’s physical, chemical, and biological functions, as well as its recreational value, have been degraded by channelization, dredging, damming, and urban development in the reach that flows through the city. By removing the 6th Street Dam, the Project seeks to reduce risks of structural failure and hazardous river flow conditions surrounding the dam, improving safety for river users and the surrounding community, while also potentially restoring rapids within the Project area.
Need
Because the 6th Street Dam currently serves as the first blocking structure to invasive sea lamprey migration along the Grand River, its removal creates a need for a new structure to impede sea lamprey from moving into upstream tributaries. The Project therefore proposes the construction and operation of a new barrier in place of the aging 6th Street Dam, designed to exclude sea lamprey while supporting broader ecosystem restoration goals. These goals include improving aquatic ecosystem connectivity and fish passage; creating improved spawning habitat; and restoring natural sediment transport processes. Achieving these objectives could also benefit threatened and endangered species, such as the snuffbox mussel, while continuing to protect critical infrastructure and riverbed stability. Additional objectives addressed by the Project include diversifying recreational opportunities while minimizing public safety risks and developing a stream design that is aesthetically pleasing and functionally natural.
Sea Lamprey in the Great Lakes
Sea lamprey are an invasive species that parasitize and kill native fish in the Great Lakes, causing significant ecological and economic damage. An adult sea lamprey can kill 40 or more pounds of fish during its 12-18 month feeding period. Maintaining a barrier to prevent upstream access to potential sea lamprey spawning habitat would support broader efforts in the Great Lakes to control sea lamprey and therefore is a critical need of the alternatives being evaluated in the EIS. Without a barrier blocking sea lamprey in the Grand River, over 1,900 miles of new river habitat would be accessible to sea lamprey, and sea lamprey control in Lake Michigan would be financially and logistically infeasible.
With Barrier
Without Barrier
Alternatives
Alternatives under consideration to fulfill the Project’s purpose and need were developed using input from the previous public scoping period held in 2019. The action alternatives involve removing the 6th Street Dam and constructing a sea lamprey barrier and associated fish ladder at one of three locations: (1) at the current 6th Street Dam site, (2) approximately half a mile upstream of the 6th Street Dam, or (3) approximately one mile upstream of the 6th Street Dam. For the barrier itself, two design options are under consideration at each location: a fixed crest barrier or a seasonally adjustable barrier. Both designs are intended to effectively prevent sea lamprey from moving upstream while supporting flood conveyance, public safety, and ecosystem restoration objectives. These alternatives have been developed based on public input and agency expertise, ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations, while meeting Project objectives.
The draft EIS will evaluate the direct, indirect, and reasonably foreseeable impacts of the proposed alternatives and a No Action alternative on affected resources identified during the scoping process. These resources may include, but are not limited to, water quality, hydrologic resources, air quality, ecological resources (including federally listed species and designated critical habitat), floodplains, wetlands, cultural resources, and social and economic resources such as community resources and facilities, recreation, noise, and aesthetics.
The Project may adversely impact a healthy population of freshwater mussels, including federally endangered snuffbox, as well as several state-listed mussel species. This assessment is based on previous mussel surveys conducted in the Project area and information provided by the USFWS. As a result, the alternatives must address potential unavoidable impacts on state and federally listed mussels within the Project area and identify appropriate conservation measures to avoid and minimize impacts.
Partnership
Federal Partners
Non-Federal Partners
This EIS is a partnership between:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (Lead Federal Agency)
- Great Lakes Fishery Commission (Cooperating Agency)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Cooperating Agency)
USACE provides engineering expertise, serves as the Lead Federal Agency for NEPA compliance, and will make the permit decision under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The GLFC, a Cooperating Agency, coordinates sea lamprey control across the Great Lakes under the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Fishery Convention of 1954. The USFWS is also a cooperating agency due to its jurisdiction over reasonably foreseeable impacts on federally listed mussel species and its special expertise in sea lamprey control.
In addition, USACE recognizes this Project has been a high priority for the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Whitewater for many years, and acknowledges that a collaborative Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Whitewater, the GLFC, and the USFWS was adopted and amended on December 16, 2024, affirming the parties’ commitment to working together to plan, design, permit, construct, and develop an operation and maintenance plan for the Project.
Study Process and Timeline
The EIS follows the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process:
- Notice of Intent (NOI) and Scoping ← Current stage (restarting)
Public notification that an EIS will be prepared; opportunity for public input on issues and alternatives to be studied.
- Draft EIS Preparation
Analysis of alternatives and environmental impacts.
- Draft EIS Public Review
Public comment period (typically 45 days) and public meeting.
- Final EIS Preparation
Responses to public comments and final analysis.
- Record of Decision (ROD)
Federal decision on whether and how to proceed, including Section 404 permit decision.
Current Status: The EIS is being restarted after a pause. A draft NOI is in preparation. Public scoping will begin once the NOI is published on a public website.
A public meeting will be held on April 22, 2026, at Grand Rapids Public Schools University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, from 4 to 7 PM.
Estimated Timeline:
[Milestones will be updated as they are confirmed]
- NOI: March 19, 2026
- Public Scoping Comment Period: April 22 – May 22, 2026
- Draft EIS: Spring-Summer 2027
- Draft EIS Public Comment Period: Summer 2027
- Final EIS: Winter 2028
- Record of Decision: 2028
Public Engagement
Public input is a critical part of the EIS process. Opportunities to participate include:
Scoping Period (Upcoming)
The USACE, Detroit District has issued a supplemental NOI to prepare an EIS to: (1) inform other Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies and the public of their plan to analyze effects related to implementation of the Grand River Upper Reach Revitalization: Sea Lamprey Control and Habitat Improvement Project in Grand Rapids, Michigan; (2) obtain information, studies, or analyses that may inform the scope of issues and range of alternatives to evaluate in the draft EIS; (3) provide notice and request input on what issues should be considered in the EIS analysis regarding potential effects to federally listed species and their critical habitat in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA); and (4) provide notice and request input on potential effects on historic properties in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
The scoping process will help identify reasonable alternatives, facilitate the evaluation of potential effects to the human environment and identify key issues of concern to be analyzed in the Draft EIS. The USACE, Detroit District intends to comply with the requirements of the ESA by undergoing formal Section 7 Consultation with the USFWS. Additionally, the USACE, Detroit District intends to comply with the requirements of Section 106 of the NHPA in parallel with the NEPA process. The USACE, Detroit District, invites Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, the State Historic Preservation Office, other interested parties, and the general public to participate in the NEPA scoping process for the preparation of the draft EIS by attending meetings and/or submitting written comments.
Public Scoping Meeting – April 22, 2026
A Public Scoping open house style meeting will be held at the Grand Rapids Public Schools University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 on April 22, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. to provide information to the public; serve as a mechanism to solicit agency and public input to develop alternatives and issues of concern; and ensure full and open participation in scoping of the draft EIS. A short, informal presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to provide more detail on the Project.
Comments for consideration in the development of the scope of the draft EIS are due no later than May 22, 2026. The public is invited to submit written comments at the public meeting and/or to Ms. Katie Bates, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, Environmental Analysis Section, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226 or via email to: Comments-Grand-River@usace.army.mil
All comments and materials received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public.
Draft EIS Comment Period (Future)
After the scoping process is complete, USACE Detroit District will begin developing the draft EIS. The public will be able to review and comment on the draft EIS during a 45-day comment period, which is expected to begin in 2027. USACE will also hold a public meeting during the draft EIS public review period. USACE will announce the draft EIS release and public meeting details through a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register and through news releases, newspaper advertisements, public notices, and/or the Project website listed above.
How to Stay Informed
- Check this page for updates
- Contact the Project team (see below)
Documents
EIS documents will be posted here as they become available:
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): [Link when available]
- Final EIS: [Link when available]
- Record of Decision (ROD): [Link when available]
All documents will also be available for review at:
- Detroit District Public Reading Room, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Frequently Asked Questions
The EIS was paused several years ago due to the development of nearby projects that would affect the scope of the EIS alternatives, designs, and evaluations. It is being restarted to incorporate updated information, current environmental conditions, and allow another opportunity for public input on the scope of this EIS. Conditions in the Grand River, sea lamprey populations, proposed alternative designs and locations, and stakeholder concerns may have changed since the original study began.
Public input opportunities will be available during the scoping period (upcoming) and draft EIS comment period (future). You can submit written comments, attend a public meeting, and contact the Project team. Details will be posted on this page and announced through Public Notices.
Potential impacts to navigation, recreation, and other river uses will be evaluated in the EIS. Alternatives will be designed to minimize impacts where feasible. Navigation and/or recreational features may be considered. Your input on these issues during scoping is important.
Yes, this is a key issue the EIS will analyze. Barrier design alternatives will consider impacts to native fish passage, including migratory species. Alternatives may include selective fish passage features or seasonal operation to allow native fish migration while blocking sea lamprey.
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires a Department of the Army permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including rivers and wetlands. Construction of a barrier in the Grand River will require placement of fill material, triggering the Section 404 permit requirement. Through the joint permit application process, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will make the permit decision based partially on the EIS analysis.
Sea lamprey are eel-like parasitic fish native to the Atlantic Ocean that invaded the Great Lakes through shipping canals in the early 1900s. They attach to native fish with their sucker-like mouth and feed on blood and body fluids, often killing the host fish. Sea lamprey have caused dramatic declines in native fish populations, including lake trout, whitefish, and salmon, harming the Great Lakes ecosystem and the annual 7-billion-dollar Great Lakes fishing economy. An integrated sea lamprey control program using barriers, lampricides, and sterile male release has reduced sea lamprey populations by 90 percent since the 1960s, but continued control is necessary. Learn more at www.glfc.org.
Yes. There are approximately 40 low-head barriers on Great Lakes tributaries specifically designed to block sea lamprey migration. These barriers have been effective tools in the integrated sea lamprey control program.
An EIS is required to take 2 years from Notice of Intent (NOI) to Record of Decision (ROD), with additional time allowed depending on project complexity, public input, and coordination requirements. The timeline will be updated as milestones are confirmed.
Contact Information
Project Manager:
Paul Powell
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
paul.a.powell@usace.army.mil
(313) 2262094
Public Affairs:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
LREPAO@usace.army.mil
(313) 226-4680
Mailing Address:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
ATTN: Grand River Upper Reach Revitalization EIS
477 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226