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For Immediate Release
May 11, 2026
Ottawa County Water Resources Receives Grant for Stream Cleanup Efforts
Ottawa County Water Resources has been awarded a $3,359 grant through the Michigan Clean Water Corps Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program to support local drain cleanup efforts in 2026.
Ottawa County Water Resources maintains more than 1,000 miles of drains across the county's rural and urban areas. Some of these waterways accumulate trash and inorganic debris over time.
The office began hosting volunteer stream cleanup events in fall 2024 and now holds one event each spring and fall. In 2025, 42 volunteers helped clean more than two miles of the No. 40, No. 15 & 17, and Rush Creek drains, removing more than 10 cubic yards of trash and 10 tires.
The 2026 grant will support two cleanup events. The first is planned for May 13 along portions of the No. 40, No. 28, and No. 9 drains in Holland, which are tributaries of the Macatawa River. (There is still time to sign up! Get details and register here.) The second is planned for September 19 along Rush Creek and the DeWeerd Drain in Georgetown Township, both of which are tributaries of the Grand River.
Ottawa County Water Resources plans to work with the Outdoor Discovery Center, Arrowaste, Rush Creek Watershed Group, Ottawa County Conservation District, Ottawa County Parks, and other partners to recruit volunteers and support the cleanup events. The office aims to recruit 25 volunteers for each event and clean approximately 1.5 miles of drains during each cleanup. Sign up to be notified of future drain clean-up opportunities.
The grant is one of 20 awarded statewide this year through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Michigan Clean Water Corps Program, which supports stream cleanup and monitoring efforts by local governments and nonprofit organizations. View the full press release from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
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