The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is planning for the removal of three aging dams in the eastern Upper Peninsula, and residents can learn more about the projects at an upcoming public meeting.
The dams sites include the Brockies Pond Dam in Luce County, the Millecoquins Pond Dam in Mackinac County and the Silver Creek Pond Dam in Luce County. The public meeting is set to take place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 at the DNR’s Newberry Customer Service Center.
According to DNR officials, the meeting will provide information on why and how these projects will be completed and any possible effects on fishing and recreation at the sites. Fisheries managers and biologists will be in attendance.
About the dams
The Silver Creek Pond, Brockies Pond and Millecoquins Pond dams were all built in the mid-1960s. They had an intended operational life of 50 years. When they were inspected in 2023 by Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy dam safety engineers, they recommended repairing or replacing corrugated metal pipe components within the next three years. They also noted seepage areas on the downstream embankment slope at each dam, which can indicate compromised embankment stability.
With repair costs estimated at around $2.5 million per dam, removal is a far less expensive endeavor at an estimated cost of $300,000 per dam. DNR officials said factors in the removal decision include public safety, natural resources and recreational benefits, and stewardship of funding. Removal also aligns with the DNR’s overall strategy for managing its dam assets.
The removal projects are expected to take place in 2027.
To learn more, visit Michigan.gov/DNRDams.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: DNR plans public meeting for Sept. 3 about dam removals in EUP
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, Sault Ste. Marie News / The Sault News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian Fellows, Sault Ste. Marie News | USA TODAY Network
