It’s time to celebrate our area’s great natural resource at the ODC Network’s Macatawa Water Festival.

The public is invited to join the celebrations and learn more about our watershed at the Festival, set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Windmill Island. The festival is free to attend, with free admission to Windmill Island during the event. No registration is necessary.

More than 20 community partners and sponsors have contributed to make this event a wonderful activity for attendees of all ages and abilities. The top sponsors this year are Boar’s Head, Huntington Bank, Velo City and Holland Litho.

Be ready for a day filled with hands-on, outdoor activities.

The Outdoor Discovery Center will be present with single and double kayak rentals on the Macatawa River. If you would like to ride a larger boat, Ottawa County Parks will have their replica voyageur canoe Gabagouache on hand. To explore the island by land instead of by waterways, Velo City will have bikes available for use on-site. The Michigan Angler Association will provide the opportunity for kids under 17 years old to fish for trout.

Beyond recreation options, many tents will hold presentations to help visitors learn about healthy water management.

DeGraaf Nature Center will host a Build a Rain Barrel workshop, with the opportunity to have barrels decorated by artists at CultureWorks the following week. (Registration for the barrel project is required and available on our ODC website.) Capturing rain water for use on your property helps ease the strain on stormwater systems and can help prevent the spread of fertilizer and other pollutants.

To understand how to conserve water better, stop by the Holland Board of Public Works tent to hear about common household water leaks. They will also have information about appropriate flushables to minimize pollution and strain on water treatment facilities.

For anyone interested in learning more about pollution, look for organizations like Back to Health, who will have an activity about examples of pollution and how kids can help prevent it. To see how water and pollution move throughout a watershed, the Ottawa Conservation District will have an Enviroscape on display.

MSU Extension will have information available about gardening with the watershed in mind. Excess fertilizer pollutes our waterways, so monitoring the way it is used on your property is an excellent way to improve water quality.

If you plan to attend, make sure to prepare for the elements. Sunscreen, snacks and water are all highly recommended to stay safe while having fun. Food will be available for free from Huntington Bank’s Treat Truck, and for purchase from the Outdoor Discovery Center’s Peachwave Frozen Yogurt Trailer.

We are still in need of volunteers to help the event run smoothly, so if you are interested in signing up, or for other questions about the event, please visit outdoordiscovery.org/macatawa-water-festival.

The Macatawa Water Festival benefits Project Clarity efforts within the Macatawa River greenway and Macatawa watershed.

— Sarah Irvin is a naturalist with the ODC Network.

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