Thursday’s vote is a watershed moment in the years-long effort to strengthen Michigan’s dam safety standards, which are among the nation’s weakest.
2020 Midland dam break
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Gretchen Whitmer joins chorus opposing Consumers sale of Michigan dams
The governor said Consumers’ concessions on the sale have been “too little, too late” and the sale would pass too much risk to taxpayers.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
In Michigan, 100K live downstream of old, decrepit dams. ‘We’re at their mercy’
Michigan’s aging dams pose growing risks to thousands of downstream residents. Weak standards, slow enforcement and scarce funding mean problem dams fester as climate change brings ever-bigger floods.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Dam safety reforms, millions for repairs advance in Michigan Legislature
Dueling state House and state Senate bills need additional votes before heading to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk, but the votes represent major action on reforms that have stalled in past sessions.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch, Outdoors Life
Bridge Listens: The facts about Michigan’s environment, data centers, dams
Bridge readers identified the environment as a top 2026 election concern, with data centers, Great Lakes health and energy policy topping the list. We break down the issues, the facts and possible solutions.
Posted inMichigan Government
Bridge Listens: What Michigan’s next governor plans for data centers, clean energy
From data centers to dams and climate change, Michigan gubernatorial candidates tell Bridge what they would do to protect the Great Lakes and wider environment.
Posted inMichigan Government
In their words: Michigan governor candidates on key environmental issues
Michigan governor candidates tell Bridge Michigan how they’d address Great Lakes threats, data centers, aging dams, energy generation, climate change and more.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan’s latest dam safety crisis revives calls for reforms, funding
Lawmakers vowed to strengthen Michigan’s weak dam safety laws after the Midland dam failures of 2020 but never did. Some see a window of opportunity for renewed action after the latest floods.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
5 things to know as Michigan lawmakers try again on dam safety reforms
A bipartisan group in the state House wants to boost Michigan’s weak dam safety standards while requiring owners to prove they can afford to maintain their dams.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Worries over Michigan’s dams resurface as repair funds run dry, reforms lag
After the Midland dam failures, lawmakers set aside millions to fix or remove other problem dams but never updated Michigan’s weak dam safety laws. Now the money has run dry, leading some to fear a dam safety ‘déjà vu.’