Conservation Resource Alliance - CRA

05/20/2026

“It has been my endeavor to record some of the last vestiges of the area’s wildness, the untamed part of their character...” – Artist Jerry Gates

Join us on Friday, May 29, from 4–7 p.m. at the Boardman River Nature Center to witness Jerry Gates’s detailed interpretations of Northern Michigan’s beautiful landscapes, capturing the magnetism that has pulled so many of us to enjoy our remaining wild places.

This exhibition will feature a broad range of Jerry Gates’s work, varying in size, style, and price points. Original artwork will be available for purchase throughout the evening, with proceeds directly supporting the mission of Conservation Resource Alliance. A portion of the proceeds will also support the Grand Traverse Conservation District, which has generously provided the event space for the evening. Complimentary wine and charcuterie will be provided, and David Chown will play music throughout the evening.

Registration is required, please RSVP here: https://www.rivercare.org/event/jerry-gates-art-exhibition-for-conservation/

05/18/2026

The Rugg Pond Dam Removal and River Restoration Project has officially entered the design phase, led by Inter-Fluve Engineering with support from Wightman, Materials Testing Consulting, and Heimlich Consulting. To mark this important milestone, project partners gathered on-site to share updates, reflect on the progress made so far, and discuss the work ahead.

While there is still a long road ahead, momentum continues to build, and a strong team of partners is helping move this vision toward reality. Learn more about the project on our website, and follow along on our social media channels for future updates.

Link: https://www.rivercare.org/project/rapid-river/restoring-the-wild-flow-of-the-rapid-river/

05/11/2026

What an honor it was to have our film Restoring Northern Michigan's Rivers featured at the inaugural Traverse City Fresh Coast Film Festival earlier this month.

Fresh Coast not only elevates the voices and critical work of local nonprofit organizations, but also creates space for expression, storytelling, and creativity to be celebrated in the most genuine way.

We are already looking forward to next year’s festival!

Shoutout to Old Mission Culture Company and the more than 120 volunteers who made this incredible event possible.

If you did not get the chance to see Restoring Northern Michigan's Rivers, follow the link below to watch the film for free online!

Link: https://www.rivercare.org/filmvideo/

05/06/2026

Check out our latest Catalyst newsletter!

From advancing major projects like the Rugg Pond Dam Removal on the Rapid River to enhancing wetlands in the Maple River watershed, this issue highlights the diversity of places and project types driving CRA’s critical restoration efforts.

Dive into the full newsletter to explore the stories and impact happening on the ground.

Link: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/3b94ca7f08.html

05/05/2026

We’re hiring!

Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) is seeking a Finance & Accounting Manager to help guide the financial health and long-term sustainability of our organization.

This role is at the heart of our operations—leading accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance—while working closely with leadership and program staff to ensure responsible stewardship of the resources that power our conservation work across Northern Michigan.

We’re looking for a hands-on financial professional who can translate complex data into clear insights, support strategic decision-making, and thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

If you’re passionate about using your financial expertise to make a real impact on rivers, habitats, and communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn how to apply and view the full position profile here: https://www.rivercare.org/emp.../finance-accounting-manager/

05/05/2026

We’re sorry to share that the Guided Birding Walk scheduled for Friday, May 8 at Brown Bridge Quiet Area Canoe Launch has been canceled.
We truly appreciate everyone who planned to join us and look forward to hosting more opportunities to explore and learn together soon.

UPDATE: We’re sorry to share that the Guided Birding Walk scheduled for Friday, May 8 at Brown Bridge Quiet Area Canoe Launch has been canceled.

We truly appreciate everyone who planned to join us and look forward to hosting more opportunities to explore and learn together soon.
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Join us on the morning of Friday, May 8, from 9-11 AM at Brown Bridge Quiet Area Canoe Launch for a guided birding walk led by CRA’s Executive Director, Suzie Knoll. Whether you're an experienced birder or simply curious about our feathered friends, this walk is designed for all skill levels.

Home to the Boardman-Ottaway River, this area was submerged beneath a 191-acre impoundment for more than a decade. In 2012, Brown Bridge Dam was removed through a restoration effort led by CRA and project partners, allowing the river and surrounding landscape to return to its natural state.

Now managed by the Grand Traverse Conservation District, this revitalized habitat is thriving and teeming with plant, aquatic, and avian life. Join us to witness this resurgence for yourself!

Enjoy complementary coffee & cookies generously provided by Mundos Roasting & Co

The event is free, but registration is required. RSVP here: https://www.rivercare.org/event/guided-birding-walk/

04/30/2026

You never forget the first time you spot a sturgeon. If you're still waiting on that day to come, Meredith’s face sums up the experience pretty well.

Pictured above is CRA Project Manager, Meredith Freeby, encountering a sturgeon in the wild for the very first time during a partner float on the Pere Marquette River! Captaining the boat is CRA Project Manager, Keenan Cooper, joined by USFS’s Luca Adelfio. If you look closely at the center of the photo, you’ll notice a dark shape in the water. That’s the sturgeon!

During this float, the USFS completed Right of Way (ROW) trimming to improve passage for paddlers. We were also joined by partners from the USFS, Pere Marquette Watershed Council, PMTU-Pere Marquette River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Pere Marquette Landowners Association, and the Michigan River Guide Association.

04/27/2026

In celebration of Earth Week, CRA Project Manager Tom Vitale led a hands-on planting effort at the Maple Wetlands restoration site, helping bring native wetlands back to life. With support from partners at the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, and friends of CRA, volunteers planted over 800 wetland-loving native trees, shrubs, and forbs along the riparian buffer.

This effort is part of a larger initiative to restore previously buried wetlands, which were exposed as groundwater seeps after the removal of the Lake Kathleen Dam at the confluence of the East and West branches of the Maple River in 2018.

Read more about the project here: https://www.rivercare.org/project/maple-river/reclaiming-buried-wetlands-at-the-maple-river-confluence/

04/23/2026

We’re proud to have been part of TCNewTech’s Bluetech Innovation Challenge!

Congratulations to Team Dam Busters for taking home the win while tackling a real-world challenge facing Conservation Resource Alliance.

A special shoutout to Meredith Freeby for representing CRA and working closely with the team throughout the challenge.

Thank you to 20Fathoms, the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center, and all participants for an energizing and thoughtful event. This is exactly the kind of partnership-driven momentum that moves river restoration forward.

The culmination of the Bluetech Innovation Challenge at TCNewTech was fun, inspiring, and unforgettable. Congrats to team Dam Busters, who took home the win for Conservation Resource Alliance - CRA!

Throughout two days during the challenge, Team Dam Busters was tasked with solving a real-world problem facing CRA: there is a large scale need to remove dam infrastructure due to environment, aging infrastructure, and a lack of need for hydroelectric power, alongside strong community resistance to the removal and its potential impacts on the environment and tax implications.

Their pitch? A software platform for those governmental or nonprofit customers looking to make large-scale infrastructure changes. It would be a public facing tool that would allow community stakeholders to see what impacts the infrastructure would have on the physical landscape, along with what may affect tax bases, and more.

Thanks to the Freshwater Resource & Innovation Center for also participating, and to all our challenge participants!

Northern Michigan Startup Week is happening all week! Don't miss out -- head to https://hubs.li/Q04d5Y010 and https://hubs.li/Q04d5N1F0 to see what's up next.