Committee Hears Bipartisan Push to Modernize Dam Rules

The Michigan Senate Committee on Energy and Environment heard testimony Tuesday on two bills that would overhaul the state's aging dam infrastructure. The hearing came in response to devastating flooding across Michigan and the ongoing recovery from the 2020 dam failures in Mid-Michigan.

Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), who chairs the committee, called the legislation a critical need for waterfront communities throughout the state.

"Updating our aging infrastructure is a critical need and should be a bipartisan affair. As storms and less predictable weather continue to increase, we must ensure we have strong, efficient dams to safeguard our waterfront communities and ecosystems from devastating flood damage," McCann said in a statement.

Two Bills Target Different Aspects of Dam Safety

The committee considered two separate measures during the hearing.

Senate Bill 947, sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), would strengthen regulatory requirements and inspection standards for Michigan's aging dams. The bill aims to increase oversight of dam conditions and maintenance.

Senate Bill 627, sponsored by Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-Norton Shores), would expand the authority of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The bill targets energy-producing hydroelectric dams and would require MPSC oversight when such dams are sold or transferred to non-utility entities.

Bills Remain in Committee

Both Senate Bill 947 and Senate Bill 627 remain in the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment for further deliberation. No vote date has been set.

McCann, who represents Kalamazoo in the state Senate, is term-limited and has announced he will seek another office in 2026. He has been an advocate for dam improvements in his district and throughout the state during his tenure.

Context: Four Lakes Recovery Continues

The push for stronger dam regulations comes six years after the catastrophic failures of the Edenville, Sanford, Smallwood, and Secord Dams in June 2020. The failures flooded communities in Midland and Gladwin Counties, displacing thousands and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

According to WCMU Public Media, the Four Lakes Task Force has refilled Sanford Lake to its legal level of just over 630 feet. The lake is now open for community use.

"The shoreline is different. There's a lot of erosion and a lot of projects to put rock on the shorelines," said Dave Kepler, president of the Four Lakes Task Force. "So, the depths of the lake in some places is going to be shallower and some places is going to be deeper."

Approximately $220 million in state and federal funding has been allocated for the reconstruction of the four dams. Property owners in affected areas face special assessments estimated at around $200 million, which could remain on tax bills for over four decades.

A Michigan Court of Claims judge recently ruled that the state was not liable for the Edenville Dam failure. Property owners' attorneys have announced plans to appeal the decision.

"Our attorneys will appeal this decision and present the facts we believe warrant a second review," said Ven Johnson, president of the law firm representing the property owners. "We will continue to fight for the people of Mid-Michigan, who still live with the damage caused through no fault of their own."

State Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) has introduced bipartisan bills in the state House that would allow low-income seniors and residents with permanent disabilities to defer special assessment costs until their property changes hands.

Work on the Sanford Dam is projected to be officially completed in February 2027, according to Kepler.