FRWC Programs
The Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) program of Genesee County Parks and Recreation works to improve, protect, and improve the Flint River and its watershed while providing many opportunities for people to learn and enjoy its beautiful water trails. These programs are funded solely by grants and from contributions from corporations and individuals who donate to the Friends of the Flint River Watershed, a 501c3 support organization designed to raise funds and acquire grants to ensure these programs continue to enrich our community.
River Monitoring
Our goal is to have every young person in the watershed have an experience with the Flint River sometime during their K-12 career.
​
The Friends support FRWC in connecting over 1,000 young people annually to our river, groundwater, and springs through the Green Program.
The Friends and FRWC help students translate classroom learning into real-world hands-on experiences. Students conduct chemical testing on the Flint River and the Streams that flow into it. The data collected is shared with decision-makers to better understand the health of the river. Environmental professionals serve as classroom mentors to connect to career opportunities and demonstrate how the work done in school is applicable in our communities. The program culminates with a student summit where diverse youth from across the watershed gather to publicly present their findings and extend their learning with breakout sessions.
​
Interested in Sponsoring the Student Summit? Reach to the education@flintriver.edu for details.
​
​​
​​
​
​
​
The FRWC offers four exciting options to explore and get active on the River.
Kayak Flint
Kayak rentals, including suttle at our downtown Flint location offering a 2 mile trip or 4 mile trip.
iKayak
The FRWC has partnered with The Disability Network and the Genesee County Parks to provide Inclusive Kayaking workshops! This program, under the direction of a Certified Adaptive Paddle Instructor and a Certified Recreational Therapist, will introduce people with disabilities and their families to the wonderful sport of kayaking on beautiful Mott Lake.
Guided Tours
FRWC offers a variety of guided tour options for you and your group.
Mindfulness Paddles
Join one of FRWC’s mindfulness paddles and learn peace of mind practices while experiencing nature right here in our own backyard by kayaking local waterways.
We can determine how healthy the river is by collecting, identifying, and counting macroinvertebrate organisms in the stream. Benthic macroinvertebrates have different levels of sensitivity to pollution. Some can live only in water with little or no pollution, while others can exist with surprising levels of pollution. Every spring and fall, FRWC engages volunteers to monitor 34 different sites in and around Genesee and Lapeer counties. We track and store this information and share it with local and state agencies.