The U.S. government is teetering on the brink of a federal shutdown that would pause or delay many government services.
2020 Midland dam break
Posted inMichigan Government
Nessel: Edenville dam owner knew of flaws 10 years before breach
State attorneys said in court documents the Edenville dam owner knew of flaws back in 2010 but took no action. Instead, he spent money on a sawmill and nearly $500,000 on a music festival.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
More fallout from Midland dam failures: blood-sucking parasites in rivers
The Edenville and Sanford dams once blocked invasive lampreys from entering upstream rivers. But the 2020 dam failures provided an opening, and lamprey now threaten native fish. Regulators say they have a plan.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Two years after Midland dam failures, still no action on safety reforms
Mid-Michigan lawmakers urgently introduced a slate of bills to better fund and regulate Michigan’s aging dams. But more than two years after the Midland disaster, the reforms have yet to receive a hearing.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Judge: mid-Michigan dam owner lied about warning state before disaster
A federal judge found that the Endenville Dam owner lied about warning the state about safety concerns to deflect responsibility.
Posted inQuality of Life
Report: Going off script, decisive action saved lives during 2020 dam disaster
A new report on flooding that caused $200 million in damages singles out the actions of Midland County’s emergency services coordinator, who called for an early evacuation.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Who’s at fault for Midland dam failures? Pretty much everyone, report says
That’s what an independent panel found in its final report chronicling the physical and human causes of the May 2020 dam failures that flooded out mid-Michigan, forcing thousands to evacuate and leaving widespread damage.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan stuck with $200M tab to fix Midland dams neglected by owners
Taxpayers will pay to repair dams that caused historic flooding. The investment works out to $32,000 for each property owner around recreational lakes.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Report: Climate change threatens these 29 Michigan chemical sites
A federal audit calls on regulators to ensure industrial sites are reinforced against floods, wildfires and other worsening climate hazards that could trigger chemical spills.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Report: Shoddy construction, ignored threats led to Edenville Dam collapse
An investigative report released Monday sheds light on the problems that left the dam vulnerable, from a failure to compact the soil during construction to missing drain tiles that the dam’s owner never addressed.