The Grand River, Michigan’s longest river and the state’s second largest watershed, twists for 260 miles from near Jackson north through Eaton Rapids, past Woldumar and downtown Lansing, then west through Grand Ledge and Grand Rapids to Grand Haven, where it enters Lake Michigan. Its watershed covers 5,572 square miles, about as large as Connecticut, and whatever happens across that land affects both the river and ultimately Lake Michigan. For centuries Native Americans used the Grand River as a major travel route, and Detroit fur trader Hugh Heward is believed to have recorded the first written account of travel on it near present-day Lansing in 1790. The river has also been a place of trade, recreation, study, and environmental harm from polluted waters and shores. Along its banks and waters live or gather White-tailed Deer, Mink, Red Fox, Beaver, Mallard Ducks, Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Belted Kingfishers, Cedar Waxwings, and Bald Eagles, while Steelhead, Salmon, Walleye, and Bass are caught between Lansing and Grand Haven. Fish ladders have been built to reduce the harmful effects of dams on the river’s ecology and to allow several fish species to migrate to and from Lake Michigan.