Michigan Officials Are Worried Another Aging Dam Could Fail

Well, here we go again. Michigan has another dam that officials are keeping a very close eye on. It’s one of those situations where problems have been piling up for years, deadlines were missed, and people are left wondering what could happen next.

This probably sounds familiar. We all remember the Edenville Dam disaster back in 2020. The warnings were there, but nothing was ever done. And when it finally failed, thousands of people paid the price. Ever since then, any story involving dam safety in Michigan gets people’s attention.

Why Michigan Is Concerned About the Au Train Dam

This situation centers on the Au Train Dam, which recently lost its federal operating license. According to MLive, after years of safety problems, missed deadlines, and warnings that went nowhere, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finally pulled the plug and stepped away. Not a great spot to be in.

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That means the federal government is officially out. From here on out, the state of Michigan is in charge. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is now reviewing the dam’s condition and figuring out what happens next.

State officials say the situation looks a lot like what led up to the Edenville Dam failure. This dam has been flagged as high risk for years and can’t safely handle a worst-case flood. Big upgrades were needed. They never happened.

The reservoir has already been lowered to reduce risk, which has hurt fishing, boating, and access in the area. There’s still no clear answer on what a long-term fix looks like.

The dam isn’t expected to fail right now. But once again, Michigan is dealing with the fallout from years of inaction.

Worth noting: This report is from last year, which goes to show just how long this situation has been dragging on.