Conservation Resource Alliance - CRA

08/28/2026

A big thank you to the Wade Trim Foundation for supporting CRA’s work at Mitchell Creek Meadows!

Their generous support will help advance restoration efforts at this special property, improving water quality, restoring habitat, and helping Mitchell Creek thrive as it makes its way toward Grand Traverse Bay.

We’re grateful to Wade Trim for investing in this work and for recognizing the value of healthy rivers, wetlands, and watersheds in our communities.

Learn more about the Mitchell Creek Meadows restoration project: https://www.rivercare.org/project/mitchell-creek/a-new-chapter-for-mitchell-creek/

Conservation Resource Alliance - CRA is working to create lasting environmental benefits and improve water quality of the streams and wetlands located at a cherished nature preserve. Learn more about the Wade Trim Foundation and 2026 grant recipients at https://www.wadetrim.com/about-us/wade-trim-foundation/

08/27/2026

Join us for The Current, our newly reimagined biennial celebration of river restoration, community conservation, and the partners who make our work possible.

Formerly known as our Friends & Partners Celebration, The Current reflects the momentum that drives our work forward. Just as a river’s current connects landscapes, communities, and ecosystems, this event brings together the people, organizations, and supporters who make conservation possible across Northern Michigan.

Taking place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 4- 7 p.m. at The Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City, MI, this special evening will celebrate the collective impact of river restoration, watershed conservation, and community stewardship throughout the region.

Guests will enjoy an evening of food, drinks, live entertainment, and inspiring stories from the field while connecting with conservation advocates, community leaders, partners, and supporters who share a commitment to healthy rivers and thriving communities.

Whether you’ve volunteered on a project, supported our work through a donation, partnered with us on a restoration effort, or are simply passionate about protecting Northern Michigan’s natural resources, The Current is an opportunity to come together, reflect on what we’ve accomplished, and look ahead to the work still to come.

Tickets are going quickly. Grab yours today: https://www.rivercare.org/event/the-current/

08/26/2026

Earlier this month, CRA staff joined the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited for Women on the Water! Participants had an experienced guide and all the tools they needed to try their hand at fly fishing. Thank you to new CRA Board member and Adams TU President, Liz Petrella, for inspiring this event and empowering so many women to get acquainted with this engaging outdoor pastime.

08/25/2026

Adults love field trips, too.

Last week, the CRA Board, instrumental project partners, and donors came together to tour two very different project sites: the “before” at the White Road crossing over Cedar Run Creek, where construction is just about to get underway, and the “after” at Site #3, the former “Shoot the Tubes” site on the Crystal River.

It was the perfect mini celebration of the Crystal River Initiative. We had the chance to see wildlife and paddlers seamlessly passing beneath the new bridge—one of four restored sites completed as part of the initiative.

A special thanks to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians staff for their leadership, substantial financial support, and collaboration in making this project a wild success, and to CRA’s donors, whose generosity fuels this vital work.

08/21/2026

We’re excited to join the Michigan Outdoor Summit for a conversation about the power of collaboration in conservation.

CRA Senior Project Manager DJ Shook will join Brett Fessell of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and Nick Killion of Crystal River Outfitters to share the story of the Crystal River Initiative—a tribal-led restoration effort that recently improved four stream crossings within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The session will explore how collaboration helped restore natural river flow, improve aquatic connectivity and recreational access, and strengthen cultural ties to the landscape.

If you’re attending the Michigan Outdoor Summit, we hope you’ll join us for the conversation.

Learn more about the project here: https://www.rivercare.org/project/crystal-river/crystal-river-initiative/

Conservation funding is competitive, and resources are limited, but this field runs on passion and partnership. The Crystal River Initiative proves what's possible when tribal nations, nonprofits, local governments, and communities unite around a shared vision, restoring a healthier river system while strengthening public access, recreation, and cultural connection to the land.

Leading the conversation:

DJ Shook, Senior Project Manager + Biologist, Conservation Resource Alliance - CRA

Nick Killian, Recreation Operations Manager, Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District

Brett Fessell, Restoration Section Leader + River Ecologist, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Learn more about this session and grab your tickets to the Summit - michiganoutdoor.org

08/20/2026

Nominate Conservation Resource Alliance for Oryana’s Groceries for Good!

Groceries for Good is Oryana’s roundup program. Each month, a non-profit is selected as the beneficiary of the last few cents shoppers choose to round up when purchasing groceries. These round ups can compound into thousands of dollars that directly support organizations in our region.

By nominating CRA, you could have a vital role in helping us raise funds for river restoration and habitat revitalization projects in our special corner of Michigan!

These nominations will help CRA get on the ballot. The nomination window closes on August 30. From there, the community will vote on non-profits to support in 2027 starting on October 1. Tell your friends!

Link: https://oryana.coop/community/groceries-for-good/

Here’s some helpful language for filling out the nomination form.

Organization Name: Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA)

Is the organization a 501(c)(3) non-profit? Yes

Organization’s Website: rivercare.org

CRA’s mission is to restore Michigan’s rivers and habitats through collaborative, on-the-ground conservation.

CRA’s work aligns with Oryana’s mission and Ends Policy because as wonderful as our state is, Michigan’s scenery and natural resources are not automatically preserved or enhanced. Fortunately, CRA has emerged as a coalition-building partner to help bridge financial and ideological gaps that affect the wild places Michiganders love and rely on. This work makes our rivers more accessible for aquatic and terrestrial beings alike, while improving the infrastructure surrounding them. CRA’s mission is driven by the vision of a future where free-flowing rivers and healthy habitats support biodiversity, enrich communities, and protect the health of the Great Lakes.

$60,968.22 raised so far this year, all thanks to you, Oryana shoppers! Now, you can help decide which organizations will benefit in 2027. Nominate your favorite Traverse City nonprofit by August 30. Qualifying organizations will move on to community voting beginning October 1.

Nominate a nonprofit today: https://oryana.coop/community/groceries-for-good/

local nonprofits, Traverse City community, charitable giving, community impact, nonprofit nominations

08/17/2026

We’re Hiring a Finance Manager!

Conservation Resource Alliance is seeking an experienced Finance Manager to join our team in Traverse City.

This full-time position will lead CRA’s day-to-day financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, grant management, and compliance. We’re looking for someone who brings strong financial management experience, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to supporting our conservation work across Northern Michigan.

If you’re a financial professional who values mission-driven work and wants to put your skills toward healthy rivers and thriving communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications are due Friday, September 18, 2026.

Learn more about the position and how to apply: https://www.rivercare.org/employment/finance-manager/

08/14/2026

Michigan’s aging dams present complex challenges for communities, waterways, and the people who depend on them—and there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution.

In a recent episode of WCMU Public Media’s Pressing Matters, CRA Program Director Kimberly Balke joined the conversation to discuss the dam removal process, the importance of collaboration and community involvement, and the work currently underway at Baldwin Dam.

The segment takes a thoughtful, balanced look at the realities communities face as aging dams require increasingly costly maintenance and changing weather patterns bring new challenges.

We appreciate WCMU Public Media for creating space for this important conversation and for highlighting the many considerations that go into determining the best path forward for Michigan’s rivers and communities.

🎥 Watch the full Pressing Matters segment:

Michigan's dams are old and require regular, costly maintenance. Mo...

08/13/2026

Great to see progress underway on W. Sharon Road in Kalkaska County!

This culvert replacement is one of several projects CRA and partners are working on this summer throughout the Upper Manistee River watershed to improve aquatic connectivity, fish passage, and local infrastructure.

Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing a closer look at this project and several others happening across the watershed soon.