Friday, May 28, 2004


WINDOWS ON THE WATER: Downtown office workers are fascinated by up-close view of river
Normally, tenants of the Riverfront Plaza building, which is across the Grand River from Van Andel Museum Center, can see pedestrians along the riverwalk. But when the river crested at 19.54 feet Thursday -- a 19-year high -- the walkway was submerged. The only thing moving outside their windows had webbed feet.

"Here comes the duck again"



Goose attack! This family of geese saw me and literally rushed toward me, the one in the lead bobbing her head like she was going to charge. For a moment I thought we might have a "situation", but she changed her mind and I went around them. Note the water in the background. I was only about 30 feet from Monroe Ave. at this point.

The National Weather Service had predicted floods not seen in West Michigan since 1948, but in Grand Rapids and Comstock Park the water stopped rising just short of the flood levels of 1985. The levels were the highest since 1960 in Ionia, 1976 in Lowell and 1986 in Ada.



Thursday's swift current drew scores of people to the river's banks.

The city's fish ladder was crowded with families, fishermen and other river watchers. Even firefighters watched the river with interest, eyeing how they'd safely launch a rescue boat if someone got too close in their zeal to be one with nature.

"It's beautiful and cool, but it's dangerous," said Fire Capt. Tom VandeWater of the Monroe Street station.



Fishing guy b&w.

Teens brought their fishing poles and found much of the fish ladder and the surrounding banks submerged.



Fish ladder.

Most of my pictures come from Riverside. I saw jet-ski's in the middle of the park, but unfortunately couldn't get a shot of them.



Boat launch.



Bike path.



Water's edge.



The picnic is cancelled.