by Fix MI State | Jun 16, 2020 | Dams & Other
The Edenville Dam, which buried mid-Michigan under billions of gallons of floodwater when it failed May 19, isn’t the only Michigan dam whose failure could threaten widespread destruction and possible death. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes &...
by Fix MI State | Jun 16, 2020 | Stormwater & Wastewater
Aging infrastructure continues to pose challenges in northern Michigan, with East Bay and Acme townships faced with traffic backups as crews tackle a million-dollar-plus sewer repair project and Traverse City plagued with sewage backups as its own decades-old pipes...
by Fix MI State | Jun 1, 2020 | Dams & Other
Last week, Michigan experienced one of its worst infrastructure disasters in the state’s history. “Dams were originally built to be something bigger, it was part of the American dream.” — Dustin Walsh, Crain’s Detroit Business The failure of the Edenville Dam flooded...
by Fix MI State | Jun 1, 2020 | Dams & Other
When dams fail, it usually happens without warning. However, we do have some understanding of the risk that dams such as the one that failed and flooded Midland this week pose to people who live downstream. Michigan dams are regulated by both state and federal...
by Fix MI State | May 26, 2020 | Dams & Other
The rushing waters out of two failed dams near Midland highlight a flood risk that extends beyond the mid-Michigan city. In fact, the breaches are a wake-up call for the entire state as climate change, long-neglected infrastructure systems and a lack of funding all...
by Fix MI State | May 26, 2020 | Dams & Other
The owner of a Gladwin County dam that failed and prompted widespread evacuations Tuesday was cited repeatedly by federal officials for safety violations, including failing to fix spillways used to prevent flooding, records show. Federal authorities revoked the...
by Fix MI State | May 13, 2020 | Roads & Bridges
Three bridges in lower northern Michigan will be cleaned to prevent damage to the structure. Michigan Department of Transportation crews will begin cleaning the bascule bridges in Manistee, Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties Monday. The cleaning of the US-31 bascule...
by Fix MI State | May 11, 2020 | Stormwater & Wastewater, Michigan beaches, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters
Wash your hands, save lives — it’s a central message during the COVID-19 crisis. But what if you don’t have basic running water, as we assume everyone does? Incredibly, too many Americans don’t. In Michigan, the pandemic has shed light on...
by Fix MI State | Apr 30, 2020 | Stormwater & Wastewater
A pipe failure that took place during work by a contractor over the weekend led to roughly 1,000 gallons of partially-treated sewage to run into the Flint River in northern Genesee County. The Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s Office released a sanitary sewer...
by Fix MI State | Apr 30, 2020 | Roads & Bridges
Michigan roads are still bad, its bridges are getting worse and the coronavirus pandemic is poised to take a chunk out of gas tax revenue needed to fix them. Annual road ratings released Thursday showed only minor condition improvements across the state between 2018...
