Nineteen Michigan dams will receive a total of $14.9 million in newly authorized grant funding for for work ranging from dam removals to critical maintenance, including removal of two dams in Ypsilanti on Willow Run Creek.
The funding is through the Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program (DRRGP) as authorized by the Michigan Legislature.
This grant program provides private owners with resources to manage existing dams and reduce the overall risk of dam failure in Michigan.
The Dam Safety Unit of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) said it is happy to be able to connect with and provide dam owners and operators with the necessary resources for proper management of dams in Michigan for the 2024-25 grant funding cycle.
A grant of $2.5 million will go to the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner for the removal of Tyler Dam and Beyer Dam on Willow Run Creek.
Removing Tyler Dam reportedly is an urgent priority due to critical safety and environmental risks. The dam is connected to the Tyler Road bridge, which closed in August 2023 due to a significant washout and deterioration. The benefits of this project include improving species passage, stabilizing the sediments and stream channel in place, reducing erosion, improving water quality, and improving flood conveyance and function of the county drain.
The Dam Safety Unit oversees the regulation of more than 1,000 structures under Part 307, Inland Lake Levels, and Part 315, Dam Safety, of The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The unit has grown to meet the needs of dam owners and operators, expanding to seven full-time engineers to offer statewide coverage.
The DRRGP was created in 2022 and reflects the demand for grant dollars to address aging dam infrastructure. This is the final grant cycle under the program’s current funding. The Dam Safety Unit will provide relevant updates should additional funding become available.
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