A grant from Ice Mountain® Environmental Stewardship Fund to the County of Newaygo in 2023 supported trail and bridge construction costs on Michigan’s Dragon Trail, a 47-mile adventure trail.

Fremont Area Community Foundation, through the Ice Mountain® Environmental Stewardship Fund (IMESF), recently announced grant awards of $78,100 to six organizations in support of their projects benefiting the Muskegon River Watershed. Grants will fund projects that include planting native species, riverbank restoration, hazardous waste collection, and more. The IMESF has awarded grants for 23 years to projects and organizations working to improve the Muskegon River Watershed. The fund was established at the Community Foundation in 2002 through contributions from Primo Brands. Its purpose is to support conservation, enhancement, and restoration of the Muskegon River and its watershed.

“We are grateful for the generosity of Primo Brands and are proud to partner in support of so many outstanding organizations and projects working to conserve and protect the Muskegon River Watershed,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are excited to see the great things that will be accomplished by this year’s grant recipients.”

Grant recipients for 2025 include the Heritage Museum of Newaygo County, Mecosta Conservation District, Muskegon Conservation District, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, Osceola-Lake Conservation District, and TrueNorth Community Services.

• Heritage Museum of Newaygo County will work with several partners to document the history and significance of Penoyer Creek through oral histories, archival research, and a multimedia story map. Penoyer Creek is a tributary to the Muskegon River.

• Mecosta Conservation District will focus on ecological restoration across seven sites on the river and two sites on its tributaries. This work will include planting native species, creating educational signage, conducting walking tours, and involving school science classes in restoration efforts.

•Muskegon Conservation District will conduct a riverbank restoration project on the Hersey River in Osceola County, focusing on a 200-foot section of this Muskegon River tributary.

• Muskegon River Watershed Assembly will partner with other organizations to improve the health of the Clam River and its watershed in Missaukee, Wexford, and Clare counties. Key strategies include establishing buffer zones and increasing tree canopy along the riverbanks along with raising public awareness.

• Osceola-Lake Conservation District will provide Mecosta, Osceola, and Lake county residents with a safe method to dispose of hazardous waste. The project will help prevent toxic substances from entering waterways.

• TrueNorth Community Services will use grant funding to help restore the boardwalk and wetland habitat of the Camp Newaygo Wetland Trail. The area was damaged by a 2024 brushfire and is part of an important wetland system in the Muskegon River Watershed.

“We’re so pleased that the Ice Mountain® Environmental Stewardship Fund continues to be a steady source of support for local organizations and their projects that enhance the Muskegon River watershed as one of Michigan’s most prominent ecological, recreational, and economic resources,” said Arlene Anderson-Vincent, Sr. Natural Resource Manager with Primo Brands, Ice Mountain®. “The entire watershed community can be grateful for the commitment these organizations hold to turn watershed stewardship priorities into action. We truly appreciate our partnership with the Fremont Area Community Foundation for their professional and thoughtful management of the IMESF.”

Grant applications for the Ice Mountain® Environmental Stewardship Fund are accepted online each year from June 1 until June 15. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the health of the watershed are also invited to contribute to the fund at any time. More information, including how to donate and apply for grants, can be found here.