Under the shadow of the windmill at the geographic center of our community, the Macatawa River works its way through its marsh and flows into Lake Macatawa. The surrounding area comprises the Macatawa Watershed, which has profoundly impacted the settlement of the Holland/Zeeland area and how our community functions today.
Join the Holland Museum, along with Dan Callam and Kelly Goward from the Outdoor Discovery Center Network, for An Environmental History of the Macatawa Watershed as they share an overview of how the area was formed following the end of the Ice Age, how humans have interacted with and impacted the watershed, why our community lake hasn’t always had the best reputation, and the story of how efforts are being made to fix it.
Thursday, February 20, 2025
7:00-8:30 pm
Holland Museum
FREE Adult Tales from the Archives Program
Registration is encouraged
This program is part of the Holland Museum “Tales from the Archives” series which explores local history topics supported by the Holland Museum’s collection and archives.
Presenter Biographies
Kelly Goward is the Land & Water Director at the ODC Network. She joined the ODC in 2021 after working for 9 years at the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council managing the Macatawa Watershed Project. At the ODC, Kelly works with a team that manages local conservation programs, including Project Clarity, the Macatawa and Kalamazoo River Greenways and community sustainability initiatives. Kelly holds degrees in biology and natural resource management from GVSU and Ball State University.
Dan Callam is the Greenway Manager at the ODC Network. Having been at ODC for over a decade, he helps oversee and coordinate environmental restoration and recreational development projects in Ottawa and Allegan Counties. A Hope College and Holland High graduate, he enjoys working where water, land, history, and the community come together.
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