History of Edenville Dam in Timeline
"Edenville Dam was an earthen embankment dam located in Mid Michigan, USA. It was situated at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers, creating Wixom Lake. The dam, measuring 54 feet high and 6,600 feet long, was located north of Edenville, primarily in Gladwin County with a portion extending into Midland County.
1924: Edenville Dam Construction
The Edenville Dam was constructed in 1924. Its purpose was to generate hydroelectric power and provide flood control for the surrounding area.
October 2018: Dam Operator Lowers Water Level, Citing Safety Concerns
In October 2018, the dam's operator decided to lower the water level, citing safety concerns. They claimed to have sought but not received a permit from EGLE for this action. This decision was later contested by EGLE.
2018: Alleged Unauthorized Water Level Lowering and Environmental Damage
EGLE's lawsuit alleged that Boyce's decision to lower the water level in 2018 and 2019, without proper authorization, had severe environmental repercussions, including the death of a significant number of freshwater mussels. This event underscored the potential ecological impact of such actions.
2018: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Assumes Oversight
Following FERC's license revocation in 2018, EGLE assumed responsibility for overseeing the Edenville Dam. Despite concerns raised by FERC, EGLE concluded that the dam was structurally sound.
2018: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Revokes License
In 2018, FERC took the unusual step of revoking Boyce Hydro Power's license to operate the Edenville Dam. This decision stemmed from multiple failures, including the dam's inability to handle a potential Probable Maximum Flood (PMF), raising serious safety concerns.
May 2019: Four Lakes Task Force Formation and Legal Dispute
In May 2019, the Four Lakes Task Force, a county-delegated authority, was created to manage the Edenville and other former Boyce dams. This led to a legal battle in Michigan's 42nd Circuit Court concerning whether only lakefront property owners or all area residents would bear the tax burden for the Four Lakes Assessment District.
November 2019: Dam Operator Lowers Water Level Again
The dam operator again lowered the water level in November 2019, reiterating their safety concerns and lack of a permit from EGLE. This move escalated tensions and led to legal action by the operator against EGLE in federal court.
December 2019: Permit Issued to Explore Hydropower Plant Expansion
In December 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted a permit to investigate the feasibility of expanding the Edenville Dam's hydropower plant. The proposed expansion included adding a second powerhouse with a 1.2 MW turbine-generator unit, increasing the total capacity to 6 MW.
2019: Alleged Unauthorized Water Level Lowering and Environmental Damage
EGLE's lawsuit alleged that Boyce's decision to lower the water level in 2018 and 2019, without proper authorization, had severe environmental repercussions, including the death of a significant number of freshwater mussels. This event underscored the potential ecological impact of such actions.
April 2020: Dam Operator Raises Water Level Under Legal Pressure
In April 2020, under the threat of legal action from EGLE, the dam's operator began raising the water level. Michigan's Attorney General confirmed EGLE's directive, asserting it was necessary to comply with court-ordered lake level regulations. The operator, however, maintained that they had lowered it for safety reasons, a claim disputed by the Attorney General.
April 2020: EGLE Sues Boyce Over Water Level Lowering
EGLE filed a lawsuit against Boyce in April 2020, alleging that the company's unauthorized lowering of the water level in 2018 and 2019 resulted in the death of thousands of freshwater mussels, highlighting the environmental consequences of their actions.
May 2020: Water Level Reaches "Normal Pond Level"
By the first week of May 2020, the Edenville Dam's water level had returned to its designated "normal pond level." This followed the operator's decision to raise the level under pressure from EGLE and the threat of legal action.
May 2020: Edenville Dam Breach and Subsequent Flooding
In May 2020, heavy rainfall overwhelmed the Edenville Dam, causing it to breach. This event led to the overflow of the downstream Sanford Dam, resulting in widespread flooding in Midland County, particularly impacting the city of Midland.
May 19, 2020: Edenville Dam Collapse, Evacuations, and State of Emergency
On May 19, 2020, at 5:46 PM, the Edenville Dam suffered a catastrophic failure when its eastern side collapsed. This was triggered by a massive influx of water following heavy rains in the region. The collapse necessitated immediate evacuations in the towns of Edenville and Sanford. The situation further deteriorated when the Sanford Dam, located approximately 10 miles downstream, overflowed due to the surge of water from the Edenville Dam breach. This secondary failure expanded the evacuation zone to encompass much of Midland, situated six miles further downstream.
2020: Flint Water Crisis Ruling
A 2020 ruling concerning the Flint water crisis had implications for the Edenville Dam case. While the specific details of the ruling are not provided, it influenced the Michigan Court of Appeals' decision in September 2023 to refuse to dismiss lawsuits related to the dam's failure.
March 2022: Infrastructure Plan to Fund Dam Repair
In March 2022, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer approved a substantial $4.8 billion infrastructure plan. This plan allocated funding for various projects, including the repair of the Edenville Dam, signaling a commitment to addressing the infrastructure failures that contributed to the 2020 disaster.
May 2022: Independent Forensic Team (IFT) Report on Dam Failure
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission appointed an Independent Forensic Team (IFT) to conduct a thorough investigation into the Edenville Dam failure. The team, comprising expert engineers, released their final report on May 4, 2022. Their findings were stark: the dam's failure was deemed "foreseeable and preventable," attributed to a series of errors and oversights spanning nearly a century. The IFT concluded that the dam's original design was flawed, and its construction was substandard, resulting in inherent weaknesses that ultimately led to its collapse.
October 2022: Federal Judge Accepts Boyce's "Propaganda" Campaign as Fact
In October 2022, a significant development occurred in the ongoing legal battle. A federal judge acknowledged and accepted as factual the existence of Boyce's "propaganda" campaign. This campaign, as described by the Michigan Attorney General, aimed to shift blame onto the State of Michigan for maintaining high water levels, contradicting Boyce's previous assertions about the dam's structural integrity.
2022: Four Lakes Task Force Gains Ownership
In 2022, ownership of the Edenville and other former Boyce dams was officially transferred to the Four Lakes Task Force. The State of Michigan provided $5 million in funding to support the purchase.
September 8, 2023: Michigan Court of Appeals Refuses to Dismiss Lawsuits
On September 8, 2023, the Michigan Court of Appeals made a significant decision by refusing to dismiss the lawsuits stemming from the Edenville Dam failure. The court cited a 2020 ruling related to the Flint water crisis in its decision, suggesting potential implications for the state's liability in the dam disaster.