How do we adapt Michigan’s dams to climate change?
Michigan's dams are being reevaluated for safety and upgrades after historic flooding in northern Michigan, with over half of the state's 2,500 dams having reached the end of their 50-year design life. Experts are calling for more dam upgrades and removals to mitigate future flood impacts.
Northern Michigan experienced historic flooding last week due to record-high rainfall and above-average snowmelt, pushing the region's infrastructure to the brink. Local leaders and experts are renewing calls to bolster safety regulations and upgrade or remove aging dams. More than half of Michigan's 2,500 dams have reached the end of their 50-year design life, with an estimated $1 billion needed for upgrades. The removal of the old Union Street Dam in Traverse City helped mitigate the flooding, with engineers saying the area would have been under two more feet of water without it. Conservation organizations are helping dam owners remove small dams, with nine removals in the last 13 years. Experts see a growing momentum around small dam removal to mitigate future flood impacts.
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