2026 Great Lakes Drinking Water Conference

5/19/26, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Noon Pickup at Park Place   
Stop #1 – Kids Creek @ Munson Medical Center   
Stop #2 – Sabin Dam Removal Site – Boardman River Nature Center  
Stop #3 – Great Lakes Incubator Farm Tour  
4:00 pm Drop off at Park Place  
 

Details: This tour will highlight recently completed restoration projects that support the health of the Great Lakes Watershed. As development increases and aging infrastructure puts pressure on local ecosystems, these projects demonstrate successful restoration efforts and strategic investments in the region’s environmental resilience. The tour will take place rain or shine, please plan accordingly. Participants should expect about 2 miles of walking, broken up among several stops. Wear sun protection and comfortable walking shoes. Attendance is limited to 30 participants. 

Stop #1 Kids Creek: This first leg of the tour will focus on The Watershed Center’s Kids Creek Restoration Project, a 10+ year project dedicated to restoring Kids Creek which is on the State of Michigan’s Impaired Water’s List due to a poor aquatic insect community, mainly because of stormwater issues. More than $10 million in grant funds have been acquired so far to implement key portions of the project, with work focusing on reducing stormwater inputs using green infrastructure, replacing undersized road crossings, adding riparian buffers, providing stream bank stability, and restoring in-stream habitat and natural stream function. For this portion of the tour we will walk the grounds of Munson Medical Center and the Village at Grand Traverse Commons to see a variety of completed restoration projects. 

Stop #2 Sabin Dam Removal Site – Boardman River Nature Center: The second leg of the tour will begin at the Boardman River Nature Center and stop at the new Ottaway Crossing footbridge, now spanning the Boardman–Ottaway River, where the former Sabin Dam once stood, to discuss restoration outcomes. Sabin Dam was removed as part of the largest comprehensive dam removal effort in Michigan along the Boardman–Ottaway River, reconnecting 160 miles of river and tributaries that had been fragmented for 126 years. Conservation Resource Alliance served as the project manager, working alongside dozens of partner organizations to free a 35-acre impoundment that is now daylighted and supports improved water quality, enhanced habitat, and expanded recreational opportunities within the Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve.

Stop #3 Great Lakes Incubator Farm: Across the river from the Boardman–Ottaway River Nature Center is home to the Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF). Situated on Grand Traverse County’s historic Meyer Farm property, GLIF is a thriving, land-based agricultural training hub that supports the growth and development of aspiring farmers in Northwest Lower Michigan. GLIF trains new farmers through hands-on experience, provides land access and shared resources to support their growth, and fosters community engagement with regenerative agriculture and conservation. GLIF is dedicated to nurturing both the land and the future of agriculture, fostering resilient, sustainable farming practices that will benefit the health of our local community. This stop of the tour will include a personalized farm tour and time with the Farm Manager to learn about food production and GLIF programming. 
 

5/19/26, 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Details: FishPass will be hosting an open-house-style event for our conference attendees on 5/19 between 2:30 and 4 PM at the FishPass overlook, just off of Rivers Edge Dr. Located on the southside of the river it will be a few minute walk from the Park Place Hotel.  FishPass staff and partners will be on hand to pass out literature, answer questions, and orient guests to the site. Guests should plan on spending 20-30 mins with them, and can come and go and any time during that 90 minute window.