Michigan's Dam Problem is Too Damn Big

Michigan has a big dam problem. Around the state, hundreds of dams are currently in need of repair. These dams hold back water that could potentially flood towns, cities, neighborhoods, and roads. But to fix this issue, the state may have to spend up to a billion dollars, money it simply doesn’t have.

The issue first came into the spotlight in 2020 when the Edenville and Sanford Dams failed. Water flooded over the dams and into Midland. The town of Sanford was several damaged, and critical infrastructure at the Dow Chemical plant was threatened. This failure woke the public and lawmakers to the potential dangers failing dams can cause.

Most dams in Michigan were made in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The dams generated power and controlled flooding. But now the dams are getting older and need repairs to stay functional. Many dams were not built with the capacity to survive extra-large floods, and some are weakened due to age and structural issues.

Lawmakers were able to pass a bill called the Dam Risk Reduction Grant program, which spent $113 million repairing or removing high-risk dams. But now, the grant program is done, and there are still hundreds of dams in need of repair. We saw this issue last April when multiple dams threatened to overflow or fail.

The Cheboygan dam, which almost failed, is a great example of the problem. It’s owned by an independent company that has been trying to turn the dam around. The dam originally powered a paper mill, but since the mill closed it has mainly been used to maintain lake levels.

It’s privately owned, and the owners have known for years that the dam was failing its safety check. They received multiple extensions on the repairs from the state but hadn’t fixed it by the time heavy rains threatened the dam with collapse.

The owners aren’t even at fault for the problem. They bought the dam with the intention of fixing it but couldn’t raise the funds. Their struggle highlights the crux of the dam issue in Michigan. Failing dams need to be either removed or repaired, and both options are too expensive.

Fixing the dams is the first solution to this crisis, but it comes with several downsides. It can be more expensive to fix a dam than remove it. Often, these dams have negative environmental consequences. The dams will have to be repaired in the future. And most importantly, the dams aren’t serving their main purpose. Most dams no longer generate sufficient power to cover their costs. I liken repairing some of these dams to servicing a loaded gun. You can make it safer, but the gun is still pointed at your face.

But dam removals can be extremely costly. Removing dams can lead to less controllable rivers, which may cause their own floods or less predictable water conditions. And while dam removal can create better fisheries and wildlife habitat, it can also leave homeowners and townships in the lurch.

Imagine spending 20 years saving for a lakeside cottage, only to learn that soon your “lake” is going to dry up because the dam that created it is getting destroyed.

Whatever option you prefer, the worst thing we can do is ignore the issue. The floods will still happen, and the dams aren’t getting any younger. This is one damn big problem we can’t ignore.