An effort to restore part of the Flint River is getting a big boost.
The National Park Service is giving Genesee County and the City of Flint a one million dollar grant to install rapid areas to naturalize river flow as well as improve the riverbanks.
Rebecca Fedewa is the executive director of the Flint River Watershed Coalition. She and others have been working for more than a decade to reclaim the river.
“This project is really important in restoring habitat for the animals that live in the river, improving water quality, as well as making the river a part of the community again."
She said the project is not intended to be a full “restoration."
“What the project is doing is introducing some elements back to the river that get it closer to a natural state," she said.
Overall, nearly $37 million will be spent to “naturalize” the Flint River.