LANSING, Mich. — A handful of West Michigan cities are getting much-needed funding to repair dams thanks to the Dam Risk Reduction Program.
Authorized by the Michigan Legislature, the program is pumping $14.1 million for work that ranges from dam removals to critical maintenance.
The program is designed to give private owners the resources to properly manage existing dams and to reduce the overall risk of dam failure in Michigan.
This grant program aims to provide private owners with resources for proper management of existing dams and reduce the overall risk of dam failure in Michigan.
Among the list includes Allegan, which earned the biggest grant in the 2023-2024 funding cycle at $1.8 million. Allegan City Manager, Joel Dye, said the city needs more funding.
“In total, it's about a $2.8 million project. Today, the state of Michigan through their EGLE Department announced that the city will receive $1 million to help fix the dam, we will need to go find more money to make this project a reality," said Dye.
Check out the complete list from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Dam Safety Unit grant awards for the 2023-2024 grant funding cycle:
- Allegan, $1.8 million:
- $1 million: To the city of Allegan for repair of Allegan City Dam, a high-hazard dam in poor condition. A leading contributor is the deteriorating condition of the stop logs. Funds from the DRRGP are recommended to be used to remove and replace the stop logs in the spillway. Replacement of the stop logs will extend the life of the dam and is important in the mitigation of contamination transportation from the Kalamazoo River Superfund site.
- $500,000: To the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Division, for a feasibility study, design, engineering, and permitting to remove the Swan Creek Dam, restore floodplain connectivity of the Koopman Marsh, and modify the Highbanks Dam to restore floodplain connectivity and prevent sea lamprey passage.
- $300,000: To the DNR, Wildlife Division, for the repair of Trowbridge Dam. This includes stability analysis, riprap repairs, void repairs, etc. As a high-hazard dam in poor condition, these repairs are needed to stabilize the site until the Superfund project manages the contamination concerns that the dam site presents.
- Barryton, $300,000: To the village of Barryton for repairs to Barryton Dam on the Chippewa River. The dam has continued to deteriorate, and crucial components are nearing the end of their useful life. The condition is at a point where long-term benefits can be achieved for a modest cost. DRRGP funds will support repairs to the radial and slide gates, repair failing concrete, line corroding culverts, and stabilize the embankment.
- Battle Creek, $200,000: To the city of Battle Creek to support Monroe Street Dam removal activities spearheaded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The corps has proposed to remove the concrete-lined Kalamazoo River channel downstream of the dam. This project proposes a feasibility study, design, and pre-engineering to include river naturalization of the concrete-lined channel, dam removal, and other considerations.
- Bellaire, $450,000: To the Antrim County Drain Commissioner to investigate the condition of the Bellaire Dam on the Intermediate River. The study will identify, analyze, and assess risk in order to inform risk-reduction measures. Based on the findings of field investigations and engineering analyses, remediation measures will be developed to address deficiencies and bring the dam into compliance.
- Boyne Falls, $185,000: To the village of Boyne Falls for a feasibility study to determine future management of the Boyne Falls Dam on the South Branch Boyne River. The increasing cost of maintaining the dam has become a burden, and the feasibility study will explore available options, including eventual removal of the dam.
- Clare, $600,000: To the city of Clare for design engineering to build a new spillway for the Lake Shamrock Dam (high hazard, poor condition). This includes hydrologic/hydraulic modeling and analysis, structural evaluation, and geotechnical exploration. The analysis is needed to develop a safe and effective design for abandoning the dam, as well as structural design necessary for the new primary spillway.
- Dundee, $202,000: To Holcim US Inc. to remove the Macon Creek Dam to proactively eliminate the risk of failure due to deteriorating conditions. Direct deliverables from this project include a topographic and bathymetric survey of the dam, its impoundment, and the potential upstream drawdown impact area, which will be used as an existing conditions basemap for design plans.
- Elsie, $1.2 million: To Duplain Township for the removal of Elsie Dam on the Maple River, which breached on Aug. 18, 2023. As a result of the failure, the township has acted to remove the remaining structure to prevent further dam failure and release of sediment downstream. Funds will complete the design of the removal and support construction activities.
- Goodrich, $180,000: To the village of Goodrich for a feasibility study for the Goodrich Dam on Kearsley Creek. The dam has become a financial burden for the village due to its deteriorating condition and concern for long-term management. The study is proposed to investigate options. DRRGP funds would provide a final deliverable of three alternatives: repair, replace, or remove.
- Hesperia, $270,000: To the village of Hesperia to investigate the current condition of the Hesperia Dam on the White River. The study will identify, analyze, and assess risks. Initial tasks will focus on data collection through desktop exercises and field data collection. Remediation measures will be developed to address deficiencies and bring the dams into compliance with safety requirements.
- Hopkins, $723,600: To Sandy Pines Wilderness for rehabilitation of the Monterey Lake Dam. The high-hazard dam is typically in satisfactory condition, but a significant piping issue was identified in late 2023. The proposal for proactive action to prevent further damage aims to replace the corrugated pipe through the dam, repair the upstream embankment due to stability concerns, and replace the toe drain.
- Manistique, $1.1 million: To the Great Lakes Fishery Commission for management of Manistique Papers Dam. The aging hydroelectric dam is classified as high hazard, poor condition and is slated to be removed. DRRGP funds would support construction actions needed before full removal of the dam, including rerouting a water supply line, a crucial part of the current dam and the last hurdle before complete removal.
- Newaygo, $384,716: To the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly for the removal of Rowe No. 1 Dam on Penoyer Creek, a Muskegon River tributary. The low-hazard dam is nonetheless in poor condition and poses risk to environmental and human health. This project proposes to design, engineer, and remove the structure. Removal will greatly help restore a coldwater fishery.
- Nunda Township, $250,000: To Huron Pines to address safety issues at the Cornwall Creek Dam (high hazard, poor condition). An old riser structure and outlet culvert will be replaced with a new lake level control structure, and minor seepage on the embankment will be addressed. DRRGP funds will support construction costs of the dam renovation.
- Rose City, $1,707,759: To Huron Pines to support the engineering, design, permitting, and initial construction phases of the removal of Sanback Dam, a significant hazard, unsatisfactory dam on Houghton Creek. This will allow progress toward stream restoration along with demolition to ensure the drawdown and succession to natural channel protects human and ecological factors.
- Stanton Township, $278,500: To Stanton Township to return the Salmon-Trout River to a free-flowing condition by breaching and decommissioning the timber crib and rock dam and modifying the steel dam to allow for a more connected river system. Grant funds are recommended to complete the design phase of the project.
- Traverse City, $1 million: To city government to replace the high-hazard, fair-to-poor-condition Union Street Dam with an enhanced structure that maintains a barrier to invasive species, allows for selective fish passage, and provides improved hydraulic conveyance. Union Street Dam is the last remaining dam on the Boardman River. DRRGP funds will support construction on the new structure and help connect the river system.
- White Cloud, $68,425: To the city of White Cloud to support the completion of a dam disposition feasibility study for White Cloud Dam. This study will help the city make informed decisions on the future of the high-hazard dam on the White River and will consider dam removal situations.
- Yankee Springs Township, $1.6 million: To the DNR, Parks and Recreation Division, for removal of the significant-hazard Hall Lake Dam. The dam is considered to be in poor condition due to several identified deficiencies. Project deliverables include removing all water control structures, placing a properly sized culvert to restore local hydrology, and restoring the area with native vegetation.
- Ypsilanti, $1.6 million: To the city of Ypsilanti for continued support for removal of the high-hazard, poor-condition Peninsular Paper Dam. Removal will restore this section of the Huron River to a free-flowing waterway and remove the threat to human and environmental health due to flooding.
The Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program was created in 2022, and the demand for grant dollars to address aging dam infrastructure has only grown, the state said.
In total, the Dam Safety Unit oversees the regulation of over 1,000 structures under Part 307, Inland Lake Levels; and Part 315, Dam Safety, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended.
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