Fixing Michigan’s old dams: Why a billion-dollar plan matters

Michigan has over 2, 500 dams, most built more than a century ago to power mills or control water. Many now leak, crack, or no longer serve their original purpose. Between 2021 and today, the state spent $44. 5 million trying to fix the worst ones. Experts say that’s not nearly enough. A new report calls for another billion dollars to update or dismantle aging structures before they fail. The state’s Dam Risk Reduction Program has removed 20 dams and repaired 16 others since 2022. It also funded 20 engineering studies to spot weak points. One example is the Boardman-Ottaway River project, where three old dams came down, reconnecting 160 miles of waterways. That cleanup involved state, tribal, and local teams working together. Without more money, similar projects can’t happen fast enough.New bills in the legislature aim to tighten dam safety rules. One proposal wants stricter inspections and better emergency plans. Another pushes for clearer accountability so dam owners can’t ignore problems. These changes follow recent dam breaks that flooded towns and cost lives in other states. Michigan wants to avoid the same mistakes. Not all dams are the same. Some are owned by cities, others by companies or families. The oldest can be over 150 years old, built before modern engineering standards. Heavy rains and freezing winters make the risks worse. Yet funding has been slow. The $44. 5 million spent so far covers only a fraction of what’s needed. Experts argue that spending a billion now prevents bigger costs later. Failed dams can destroy roads, homes, and drinking water supplies. They can also block fish from swimming upstream to spawn. Some communities already see blocked rivers as a problem for wildlife and recreation. Ignoring the issue risks repeating past disasters when dams burst without warning.