SAGINAW, MI - Before its collapse in May that led to flooding across Midland and parts of Saginaw County, the Edenville Dam was one of six dams rated by the state as in poor condition and as a “high hazard” to residents and the environment.
The remaining five are located in Ottawa, Cheboygan, Schoolcraft and St. Joseph counties.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE, held a media briefing on Friday, June 5, to give an overview of the department’s regulatory dam safety responsibilities and duties. Officials also discussed the current state of 85 dams under state regulation.
The current status of every dam regulated by the state can be viewed on an interactive map on EGLE’s website. Those interested can view and interact with the map here.
The map sorts structures by what regulatory authority it falls under, the condition of the structure as of the last time it was inspected and the hazard potential if the structure fails. When clicked on, each structure will also display when it was last inspected and who owns it.
Hazard potential is not determined by the condition of the dam or the likelihood it will fail, but rather the loss of life and economic and environmental damage that would likely occur if it fails, EGLE dam safety engineer Luke Trumble said.
The condition of a dam can be one of four levels, other than “not rated":
- Satisfactory
- Fair, meaning it is in good condition but could have safety issues in extreme circumstances.
- Poor, meaning either inspectors know there’s a problem or there’s not enough information to tell.
- Unsatisfactory, where regulators know there’s a problem that needs immediate attention.
Of the 85 high-hazard potential dams the state regulates, there are none rated unsatisfactory, but six including the Edenville Dam are rated poor and one is unrated.
The others in the poor category include:
- Buttermilk Creek Detention Dam in Ottawa County, which has unauthorized modifications to its spillway and needs further analysis.
- Cornwall Creek Dam in Cheboygan County. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is in the development stages of replacing its deteriorated spillway.
- The Manistique Papers Dam in Schoolcraft County, which safety engineer Dan DeVaun said is “extremely old."
- Little Black River Structure B owned by Cheboygan County, which has a small sinkhole nearby.
- Portage Plant in St. Joseph County, which has deteriorated with age and has a “delinquent” owner. The state is planning enforcement action.
The Dam Safety Program typically works with dam owners to resolve known issues, with the state considering harsher enforcement if owners fail to adhere to a timeline. The department can impose a fine of up to $10,000 per day per violation, Trumble said. As need escalates, the department can order owners to shut down or limit operations at a dam, or have it removed. If there’s imminent danger, the department can step in directly and sue the owner to recoup any costs related to the emergency repairs.
The department was working with the new owners of the Edenville Dam to resolve its structural issues at the time it collapsed, Trumble said. The state took authority over the dam in 2018 after federal regulators revoked the hydropower license from its previous owners, Boyce Hydro, after decades of reported regulatory non-compliance.
Read more:
Good news for travelers: Flood-damaged U.S. 10 bridge over Sanford Lake to partly reopen
$1.5 million needed to fix Saginaw County’s flood-damaged roads
Flood clean up kits available from the Salvation Army in Midland; Open Door plans clothing giveaway
Midland flood victims who ‘literally lost their life’s savings’ face new reality
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June 06, 2020 at 04:57AM
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Michigan rates 6 dams in poor condition and as 'high hazards’ to downstream residents - MLive.com
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