Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com
After my presentation in Montague, Michigan the library had arranged for an interpretive walk along the White River.
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The White River as it approaches White Lake
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Jeff Auch (former executive director of the Muskegon Conservation District) led the walk. Funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) helped restore wetlands, exhume materials from the historic city dump, and plant native plants in the area.
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Jeff Auch stands on clear evidence of the lumber industry in Montague
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Jeff points out where the old city dump used to be
Wetlands are a natural cleaning area for our waters and are vital for maintaining the health of the Great Lakes. White River flows into White Lake which flows directly into Lake Michigan.
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Japanese Knotweed is an aggressive invasive plant found near these wetlands
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As it matures, the stems resemble bamboo
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