KENTWOOD, Mich. -- Calvin University says some rare freshwater mussels have been found in Plaster Creek.
It happened during a restoration project in Kentwood's Covenant Park.
Andrea Lubberts calls it an "ecological surprise." She is the program manager for Plaster Creek Stewards, an initiative based at Calvin. The mussel survey took place as part of a larger planning process for a floodplain restoration and streambank stabilization project. It will reduce erosion and improve habitat for fish and mussels.
Here are more details from a Calvin University news release:
The finding, made by Plaster Creek Stewards with leadership from local mussel experts during a recent survey, reveals seven different species —a surprising number for an urban waterway. Species like Giant Floater, Spike, and White Heel splitter were common finds along with occasional piles of shells on the stream banks, indicating their role in the ecosystems as providing food for larger animals. Other mussel species found are listed as state threatened and endangered sparking both hope and extra responsibility moving forward.
“This is the kind of ecological surprise that reinforces everything we’re doing to restore this space,” said Andrea Lubberts, program manager for Plaster Creek Stewards, an initiative housed at Calvin University. “Mussels are like the ‘livers of the river’—filtering water, stabilizing stream beds, and signaling overall stream health. The fact that they’re here in these numbers tells us we have something to preserve as well as restore for the future of Plaster Creek.”
The mussel survey took place as part of a larger planning process for a floodplain restoration and streambank stabilization project at Kentwood’s Covenant Park—109 acres of city-owned land transitioning from a retired golf course to public parkland. Located on Plaster Creek, which is a tributary of the Grand River, the site plays a critical role in protecting downstream ecosystems all the way to Lake Michigan.
Supported by funds from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative via NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, the planning project is being carried out in partnership with the City of Kentwood, Plaster Creek Stewards, and engineering firms Dewberry and LimnoTech. The initiative’s current phase includes 60% design plans, cost estimates, and proposed future construction and maintenance strategies focused on nature-based solutions to stabilize banks, improve water quality, and build climate resilience.
“These design plans will guide future grant applications and help us restore not just the creek’s eroding edges but increase safe access to this park for the Kentwood community,” said Lubberts. “Finding rare species like these mussels challenges us to be even more thoughtful about plans that take mussel habitat into consideration.”
Beyond ecological value, the project will hopefully expand community engagement with efforts to restore Plaster Creek in Kentwood. Plaster Creek Stewards has tracked education and action hours from community members since 2016. After a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, participation has surged—with more than 4,000 volunteer hours and 3,200 individuals engaged in 2024 alone. If eventually funded, the implementation of this project will offer more opportunities for Kentwood residents to explore the restored floodplain, learn about the creek, and take action in their community to care for it.
In addition to mussels, the site has also been identified as home to a rare sedge (Carex trichocarpa) listed as a “special concern” species in Michigan. Large sycamores and patches of remnant forest provide further ecological anchors for the restoration effort.
Once completed, the restored floodplain will not only reduce erosion and improve habitat for fish and mussels, but also lay the groundwork for new park amenities, trails, and outdoor spaces for Kentwood residents. The restoration will also help slow stormwater, reduce downstream flooding impacts and protect water quality in the Grand River and Lake Michigan.
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To learn more about the Plaster Creek Stewards or get involved, visit: www.calvin.edu/go/plastercreekstewards
About Plaster Creek Stewards
Plaster Creek Stewards is a collaborative partnership of Calvin University faculty, staff, students, and community members working to restore the health and beauty of the Plaster Creek Watershed through education, research, and on-the-ground restoration. The initiative also includes Project GreenER, an effort to equip a new generation of environmental restoration leaders.
About Calvin University:
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its 3,700 students from 48 U.S. states, 66 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.
Photo: Source: All photos from Calvin University.