Edenville Dam

Edenville Dam was an earthen embankment dam at the confluence of the Tittabawassee River and the Tobacco River in Mid Michigan, United States, forming Wixom Lake. The dam was about one mile (1.6 km) north of Edenville, mostly in the southeast corner of Tobacco Township in Gladwin County, with its southeastern end reaching into Edenville Township in Midland County. Its height was 54 feet (16 m), the length was 6,600 feet (2,000 m) at its crest.

Edenville Dam
Location within the state of Michigan
LocationGladwin and Midland counties, Michigan, United States
Coordinates43.8141°N 84.3765°W / 43.8141; -84.3765
PurposePower, flood control
Opening date1925
Owner(s)Four Lakes Task Force
Dam and spillways
Type of damEarth fill dam
ImpoundsTittabawassee River
Height54 ft (16 m)
Length6,600 ft (2,000 m)
Reservoir
CreatesWixom Lake
Total capacity66,200 acre feet (81,700,000 m3)
Surface area5.7 sq mi (15 km2)

The dam was built in 1924[1] for hydroelectric power and for flood control.[2] The dam was equipped with two 2.4 MW turbines capable of generating 4.8 MW of electricity in total.[3]

In May 2020, following heavy rains, the Edenville Dam breached and the Sanford Dam downstream overflowed, which caused major flooding in Midland County, including the city of Midland.[4]

History

The dam was built in 1924 by Frank Isaac Wixom, after whom the reservoir formed by the dam is named.[5] Wixom used to own a circus before he built the dam.[6]

The dam was privately owned and operated by Boyce Hydro Power, a company based in Edenville, which also owned three other hydroelectric facilities on the Tittabawassee: the Secord, Smallwood, and Sanford Dams.[7]

Safety and lake level disputes

In a rarely used federal power, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) terminated Boyce Hydro Power's license in 2018, because of its "inability to pass the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF)",[8] as well as seven other failures.[9] The federal government was concerned that "the dam may not have the ability to pass enough water, if a severe flood were to hit, among other issues and violations."[10]

Following the federal government's 2018 license revocation, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) took oversight of the dam.[11] EGLE determined that the dam was structurally sound.[12] Edenville and the other former Boyce dams were taken over in 2019 by the Four Lakes Task Force, a county delegated authority,[13][14][15] with title to transfer in early 2022.[16] The State of Michigan appropriated $5 million for the purchase.[17][18] The Four Lakes Task Force operates under the Four Lakes Assessment District in the State of Michigan,[15] created in May 2019 by Judge Stephen Carras. In 2019, Michigan's 42nd Circuit Court was involved in determining if only the lakefront owners or all area residents would pay tax to the Four Lakes Assessment District.[19]

In October 2018, and again in mid-November 2019, the dam's operator lowered the water level, in what it called "a safety move." It said it had requested a permit to lower the level from Michigan's EGLE, a permit that was not issued. The operator said it acted “due to concern for the safety of its operators and the downstream community,” and went on to sue EGLE in federal court, alleging "its safety concerns were paramount."[20][21]

In December 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a permit to investigate expanding the hydropower plant with a second powerhouse containing one 1.2 MW turbine-generator unit for a total of 6 MW.[22]

The dam's operator said it began to raise the lake's water level in April 2020, under threat of being sued by Michigan's EGLE, and that it reached "normal pond level" in the first week of May. Michigan's Attorney General confirmed EGLE had directed the operator to raise the water level, stating: "Michigan EGLE directed Boyce to follow the court-ordered lake level requirements," but challenged that the operator had lowered it for safety reasons.[23]

In April 2020, EGLE sued Boyce, alleging it had lowered the water level without permission in 2018 and 2019, killing thousands of freshwater mussels.[24][25][26][27]

Dam failure
Copernicus Programme image of the dam after failure, showing the new river channel east of the original spillway.

On May 19, 2020, 5:46 p.m., due to massive inflow from heavy rains in the area, the eastern side of the dam collapsed, prompting immediate evacuations in the towns of Edenville and Sanford.[28] The Sanford Dam, about 10 miles (16 km) downstream, subsequently overflowed, requiring evacuations in much of Midland six miles (9.7 km) further downstream.[29] Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency, and announced an investigation into the dam's operators for alleged neglect.[30][31][32] Over 10,000 local residents were ultimately evacuated, as officials cautioned residents to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.[33]

The Tittabawassee River crested at 35.05 feet (10.68 m) late on May 20, resulting in extensive flooding throughout eastern Midland and low-lying parts of its downtown district, and severely damaging most of the village of Sanford.[34][35][36] The extent of the floodwaters was visible from space on May 22.[37] Dow Chemical's Midland operations were threatened by the flooding, but reportedly suffered no serious damage.[38] As of the morning of May 20, no casualties had been reported as a result of the flooding.[39]

Lawsuits

In the wake of the flooding, three class-action lawsuits were filed by the victims, of which two named Michigan's EGLE as defendant and two named the dam's operator as defendant.[40] Michigan's Attorney General is also being sued.[41]

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References
  1. "Dam Information – Gladwin County".
  2. "findlakes.com". ww5.findlakes.com.
  3. FERC issues preliminary permit for 6-MW Edenville Dam Hydroelectric Project in Michigan, December 3, 2019
  4. Jackson, Angie; Spangler, Todd. "'Do not hesitate': Michigan governor urges evacuations, warns Midland could be under 9 feet of water". USA TODAY.
  5. "History". www.edenvilletwp.org.
  6. Virginia Florey (April 4, 2019). "Midland Remembers: Genius burning: The story of Frank Isaac Wixom, Part I". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 20, 2020. In 1893, Wixom sold his circus for $25,000. He hadn't forgotten his dream of bringing prosperity back to the lumbering towns like Edenville, Sanford, Averill and Coleman but he needed money to build dams.
  7. "Compliance report" (PDF). sanfordlakeassociation.org. 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  8. "FERC Denies Stay of Hydro Project License Termination". Washington Energy Report. October 30, 2018.
  9. "Federal government orders dam owner to cease operations". mlive. November 22, 2017.
  10. Trylch, Rebecca. "FERC revokes license for Edenville Dam". www.abc12.com.
  11. Wixom Lake drops more than 7 feet, abc12 News, Rebecca Trylch, October 29, 2018
  12. Erin Ailworth; John D. Stoll (May 20, 2020). "Failed Michigan Dam Lost License in 2018". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2020. After its license was revoked by FERC, regulation of the Edenville dam was taken over by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in 2018. Spokesman Nick Assendelft said the agency inspected the dam in October 2018 and found it structurally sound
  13. Lyden, David (April 25, 2019). "Wixom Lake Levels Expected to Return to Normal as Task Force Agrees to Buy Dams". 9 and 10 News. Retrieved May 20, 2020. The Four Lakes Task Force agreed to buy Wixom, Sanford, Secord and Smallwood dams from Boyce Hydro for nearly $9.5 million
  14. Chris Clor (April 24, 2019). "Task Force Agrees to Buy Dams, Restore Wixom Lake in Gladwin Co". 9 and 10 News. Retrieved May 20, 2020. Wednesday the task force announced it agreed to buy the Wixom, Sanford, Secord and Smallwood dams from Boyce for nearly $9.5 million.
  15. "Four Lakes Task Force, as Delegated Authority for the Counties of Midland and Gladwin, Michigan". County Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020. the Four Lakes Task Force, in its capacity as the County Delegated Authority for the Four Lakes Special Assessment District
  16. "Frequently Asked Questions". Four Lakes Task Force. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  17. Tereasa Nims (March 14, 2019). "Task Force wants Midland, Gladwin counties to help with dam". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 20, 2020. The state reportedly issued the task force a $5 million grant
  18. Kukulka, Mitchell (January 3, 2020). "Boyce Hydro, Four Lakes Task Force sign dam agreement". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  19. Nims, Tereasa (May 6, 2019). "Some lakefront property owners want everyone to pay". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  20. David Welch (May 21, 2020). "Michigan Flood Puts Privately Owned Dams in Harsh Spotlight". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 21, 2020. Boyce said it lowered lake-water levels as a safety move in October 2018
  21. Garret Ellison (May 21, 2020). "Failed dam owner fought with state over Wixom Lake levels before flood". Booth Newspapers. Retrieved May 21, 2020. Boyce says it asked EGLE for permission to lower Wixom Lake last fall “due to concern for the safety of its operators and the downstream community.” EGLE and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources denied the request. Boyce lowered the lake without approval in mid-November “believing its safety concerns were paramount.” Boyce sued the state on April 29 in Grand Rapids federal court
  22. FERC issues preliminary permit for 6-MW Edenville Dam Hydroelectric Project in Michigan, Hydro Review, December 3, 2019
  23. Stephanie Parkinson (May 21, 2020). "Dam owner raised lake levels just before dam failures; claims state AG threatened lawsuit". NBC 25 News. Retrieved May 22, 2020. The Michigan Attorney General's office issued this statement: "[...] Michigan EGLE directed Boyce to follow the court-ordered lake level requirements."
  24. JOHN FLESHER (May 20, 2020). "Michigan dam had repeated safety violations before flooding". The Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. Retrieved May 21, 2020. The company twice lowered Wixom Lake's level without permission after the federal license was revoked, said Nick Assendelft, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which has overseen the Edenville barrier since its federal license was withdrawn [...] A lawsuit filed April 30 says the lengthy drawdowns in 2018 and 2019 killed “thousands, if not millions” of freshwater mussels, many listed as endangered species
  25. Riley Beggin; Mike Wilkinson; Kelly House, Bridge Magazine (May 20, 2020). "Feds revoked dam's license over safety issues. Then Michigan deemed it safe". Retrieved May 21, 2020. State officials alleged Boyce's dams lowered the lake without permission in 2018 and 2019, and sued the company in April alleging the actions killed "thousands if not millions" of endangered freshwater mussels.
  26. "Michigan dam had repeated safety violations before flooding". Washington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2020. A lawsuit filed April 30 says the lengthy drawdowns in 2018 and 2019 killed “thousands, if not millions” of freshwater mussels, many listed as endangered species.
  27. "Did state pressure to keep Wixom Lake level high contribute to Edenville Dam's failure?".
  28. "Edenville Dam structure breaks; evacuate immediately".
  29. Schafer, Ashely (May 19, 2020). "Sanford Dam failure imminent; Midland residents evacuating". Midland Daily News.
  30. "Residents told to evacuate after Edenville Dam failure in Midland County". Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  31. Schafer, Ashely (May 19, 2020). "Sanford Dam failure imminent; Midland residents evacuating". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  32. "'Long Ways to Go' Before Residents Can Return Home After Michigan Dam Failures".
  33. "Michigan dam failures force 10,000 to evacuate and could leave one city under 9 feet of water".
  34. "Weather Service: Tittabawassee River crests at 35.05 feet".
  35. "Midland County communities assess flood damage after dam failures".
  36. "Michigan floods: Evacuations after Edenville and Sanford dams breached".
  37. "NASA Shares Satellite Images Of Historic Flooding In Michigan".
  38. "Dow shifts to clean-up, recovery mode".
  39. "As Virus Lingers in Michigan, a New Crisis Arrives: Flooding".
  40. https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2020/05/after-edenville-dam-failure-lawsuits-pour-in-against-owners-state-regulators.html
  41. https://www.9and10news.com/2020/05/28/lawsuit-filed-against-ag-nessel-county-officials-for-edenville-dam-failure/
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