Keeping you updated you on the latest information and current progress

toward bringing back our lakes.

The Four Lakes Task Force board was pleased to learn last week that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) plans to hire a senior environmental engineer to act as a third inspector in its Dam Safety Program, which is an important first step in bolstering the program under EGLE’s Water Resources Division. The new inspector will increase team efficiencies in tracking the more than 1,050 state-regulated dams.

Besides adding a third inspector, EGLE said it will continue to evaluate the need for changes in the Dam Safety Program and is awaiting recommendations from outside evaluations that are expected to identify policy, budget, legislative and enforcement reforms. Four Lakes Task Force President, David Kepler, and Ron Hansen of Spicer Engineering testified last week before the Michigan Senate about dam safety reforms needed by the state and said they support these evaluations.

Updates on the Edenville and Sanford dam investigations will be posted to EGLE’s Edenville Dam Failure webpage, which includes an interactive map of all state-regulated dams in Michigan.

EGLE informed the public last week that Boyce Hydro, “has refused to come to an agreement with the investigative team on a contract to perform its work. Boyce has also ignored key deadlines to perform critical post-failure evaluations and work related to the portion of the Edenville Dam along the Tobacco River.” Boyce Hydro is responsible for hiring a team of independent investigators to complete the forensic investigation of the Edenville and Sanford dam failures.

It is disappointing to learn that Boyce Hydro remains a barrier to the investigation. This chronic noncompliance, if not addressed, could push back the community’s ability to recover and restore the lakes. We hope that the state and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) act quickly to address these deficiencies.