(LANSING)_ -= Four years after catastrophic dam failures flooded parts of mid-Michigan, state officials warn the risk of another disaster is growing.
Following the 2020 collapse of the Edenville and Sanford dams, lawmakers approved more than 50 million dollars to repair or remove unsafe dams statewide. That funding helped address dozens of structures--but the money is now gone, and thousands of aging dams remain.
State dam safety officials say many of Michigan's dams are well past their intended lifespan. Nearly 100 are listed in poor condition, and more than 160 are considered high-hazard, meaning a failure could threaten lives downstream. Despite those concerns, lawmakers have not passed stronger dam safety regulations, leaving much of the responsibility with private dam owners. Regulators have instead ordered emergency water drawdowns at the riskiest sites, a move that has drawn resistance from some communities that value dam reservoirs for recreation or history. The 2020 Midland-area failures forced 10-thousand people to evacuate and caused more than 200 million dollars in damage. Officials say without new funding and long-term planning, Michigan could face another costly and dangerous dam failure.