“Water conservation doesn’t start in the water. It starts on the land, in the choices we make every day across our communities.”

Kelly Goward serves as Conservation Programs Director at ODC Network, where she leads the organization’s conservation programs and oversees initiatives spanning the DeGraaf Nature Center, Project Clarity, and regional efforts within the Macatawa and Kalamazoo River Greenways. Her team’s work advances sustainable, community-driven solutions to protect and restore West Michigan’s natural ecosystems.

At the center of Kelly’s leadership is Project Clarity, a long-term initiative to restore Lake Macatawa and its surrounding watershed. Addressing decades of environmental degradation, the work focuses on restoring natural systems through wetland restoration, improved land-use practices, and expanded water storage across the 175-square-mile watershed.

Kelly’s approach reflects a deep belief that environmental progress is rooted in collective action. Under her leadership, ODC Network has partnered with approximately 80 local farmers to implement conservation practices, while engaging residents across the region in efforts such as rain gardens and native plantings that improve water quality and strengthen community connection to place.

She brings deep technical expertise in stormwater and watershed management, paired with a collaborative leadership style that empowers teams and builds cross-sector partnerships. Her work includes leading the update of the Macatawa Watershed Management Plan which outlines priorities for the next decade of restoration. She also spearheaded the reopening of the DeGraaf Nature Center, overseeing the design, editing, and implementation of new interpretive displays that enhance visitor experiences and deepen community understanding of local ecosystems.

Kelly is a Certified Green Infrastructure Professional through the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. She serves on the Ottawa Conservation District Board, the Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Board, the Ottawa County Materials Management Planning Committee, and the Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society executive council.