Consumers preparing to cut flow to Manistee River for dam inspection

Consumers Energy plans to temporarily cut flow to a popular section of the Manistee River the week of Sept. 21.
Company officials say the move is needed to safely inspect damage at the dam
River advocates question whether the utility has fully considered other options

Consumers Energy is advancing its plan to curb water flow to a popular section of the Manistee River next month so it can inspect damage at one of its 13 hydropower dams, although company officials say they have not settled on a “final path forward.”

While Consumers contends that a temporary disruption in flow from the Hodenpyl Dam would have minimal downstream impact — lowering water levels by about a foot — river advocates oppose the plan and question whether the company has fully considered other options.

“What option can you come up with to ensure that there will still be some minimal flow in the river, rather than just saying ‘Well, it’s just for a short period of time?’” asked Bob Stuber, executive director of the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition.

“We’re opposed to it, no matter how short the duration.”

Consumers first alerted officials within the departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to the plan in July, saying it was the only safe way to inspect spring storm damage to the tailrace where water exits the 101-year-old dam.

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The issues range from sinkholes and compromised sheet piling to a suspected leaking retaining wall.

After pushback from state officials who feared harm to fish and wildlife, company officials vowed to delay the inspection and consider alternatives.

In a Thursday email to state officials reviewed by Bridge Michigan, Consumers representative David McIntosh indicated the company now aims to go through with the inspection sometime during the week of Sept. 21.

In a statement, Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler said officials “are continuing to work with our engineering team and regulators to evaluate available options” and expressed disappointment that information had been publicly shared “before plans have been finalized.”

“Our focus remains on the safe operation of all 13 of our dams, including Hodenpyl, which continues to operate safely today,” Wheeler said. “We will communicate our next steps transparently once that process is complete and a final path forward has been determined.”

The plan communicated to state officials calls for intervals in which Consumers would curb or entirely cut off the flow from the Hodenpyl spillgate, allowing for underwater inspections that would otherwise be unsafe because of turbulent water flowing out the spillgate.

Wheeler did not respond to questions from Bridge Michigan about how many no- or low-flow intervals will be needed and how long the entire operation would last.

In a document shared with state officials, McIntosh indicated that Consumers officials are not concerned about the possibility of fish strandings from the altered flow. During a past incident that interrupted flow from the dam, water levels immediately downstream dropped by about a little more than a foot, “which is what we’ll anticipate for our current operation.”

Nonetheless, the company plans to station staff at seven downstream locations, equipping them with waders and nets to return any stranded species to the water. Monitoring will also be done by kayak and drone.

DNR spokesperson Ed Golder said agency officials are reviewing Consumers’ plan and preparing follow-up questions, but the “DNR is encouraged by the protective measures that Consumers Energy has proposed following our initial conversations in July.”

River advocates have expressed opposition to the plan, which would take place in a popular stretch of the river frequented by anglers and boaters and flanked by the popular North Country Trail.

They have urged Consumers to consider using a pipe to siphon water downstream in order to maintain flows.

Documents shared by McIntosh state that siphons “are not being pursued” due to “the timing of the inspection compared to logistics” such as obtaining equipment and getting federal approval to use it.

The inspection difficulties at Hodenpyl Dam have emerged in part because of other mechanical problems on the aging structure.

Normally, the dam’s two power-generating units would offer an alternative way to move water downstream with less turbulence. But the generating units aren’t functioning.

The controversy at Hodenpyl comes as Consumers looks to sell the dam and 12 others across Michigan to a private equity firm for $1 apiece. The deal is motivated partly by Consumers’ desire to avoid spending hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain the aging structures.

While Consumers officials have touted the deal as the cheapest option for its ratepayers, a state administrative law judge in June urged regulators to reject the sale, citing concerns that new owners would not make the investments needed to keep the dams safe. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also opposes the sale.

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