Kalamazoo River Naturalization

The City of Battle Creek is embarking on a project to develop a river corridor concept aimed at enhancing the natural and aquatic health of the Kalamazoo River.

In the 1960s, a flood reduction project channelized the river with concrete riverbanks to divert water away from Downtown. However, the concrete is now aging, unattractive, and has detrimental effects on the river's ecology. Additionally, it employs an outdated method for flood reduction

This initiative will utilize native plants along the riverbank and floodplain to effectively manage stormwater and flood flows. Additionally, the project includes long-term visioning to revitalize the river corridor, support new recreational opportunities, and improve connectivity to Downtown Battle Creek.

As of April 2025, the city is working with an engineering firm to develop a conceptual plan. The firm is studying how to remove the existing Monroe Street dam, replace the concrete channel with flood-tolerant plants, establish the Kalamazoo River corridor as an amenity for the Battle Creek community, and identify the steps to turn this vision into reality.