Recreation helps restore waterways

Today’s MI Environment story is by Maggie Styf, who is serving as an intern in the Office of Public Information at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). A student at the University of Michigan majoring in Environment and Sustainability, Styf is working on a project involving river data collection and community engagement at the Kalamazoo River. 

Many Michigan waterways have long faced contamination from a variety of sources such as industrial facilities, farms, and even regular households. One area especially affected is the Kalamazoo River and its larger watershed. With a history of pollution from paper mills and other industries, the river has required decades of dedicated restoration work. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), along with numerous local partners, has worked tirelessly to clean up contamination and return these natural areas to full health.

Ecosystems, however, don’t recover through environmental remediation alone. Restoration of a waterway includes a healthy relationship between it and the people who live nearby. In some Kalamazoo communities, restoration progress is incomplete, in a sense, due to limited public involvement. Longstanding warnings about contamination have left many residents uncertain about interacting with the river, resulting in fewer opportunities for connection. 

For Michigan’s waterways to thrive, the community needs to engage with them. Participation in recreational activities such as paddling, hiking, birdwatching, or simply spending time near the water helps people build meaningful relationships with their local ecosystems. It encourages exploration, sparks curiosity, and deepens appreciation for the natural areas that surround them. Once these connections form, community members often feel more invested in the protection and restoration of these places which, in turn, inspires greater participation in stewardship efforts. These renewed relationships give Michigan’s ecosystems a chance to flourish for generations to come. 

So get out there! Grab a kayak, canoe, paddleboard or simply wade and see all that Michigan waterways have to offer.