Michigan's aging dams need money, manpower to avoid 'grave situation,' report says

[marmar]

(Detroit Free Press) Michigan needs to do — and spend — much more to avoid further disasters like the two dam failures that caused catastrophic flooding in Midland and Gladwin counties in May 2020, the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force states in its final report submitted this week to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The 19-member task force, including state department heads, engineers, dam safety officials and others, was convened by Whitmer following the Edenville and Sanford dam failures on the Tittabawassee River amid record rains last May. The dam failures drained the Wixom Lake and Sanford Lake impoundments, causing devastating flooding downriver in Midland, with more than $250 million in damages. Whitmer asked the task force to take a comprehensive look at the state's 2,500 dams, about 1,100 of which are regulated by the state, and whether their regulation was adequate.



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"The state is heading toward a grave situation with many dams if significant investments are not made in the short and medium term," the report stated.

But the task force's recommendations — at those price tags — are going to be tough to accomplish, a retired, longtime Oakland County official said. ..........(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/02/27/dam-safety-task-force-edenville-sanford-dam-flood-midland/6838169002/