Governor orders probe of failed dams that caused flooding

West Bloomfield, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday demanded an investigation to determine what caused two dams in central Michigan to fail, leading to devastating floods in several communities and forcing about 11,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Whitmer ordered the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to look into the May 19 failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams, operated by Boyce Hydro.

“I’m committed to doing everything I can to hold those responsible for the dams’ safety accountable,” she told reporters in Midland, one of the communities that was submerged. “I also asked EGLE to review the issue of dam safety in Michigan and provide recommendations on policy, legislative and enforcement reforms that can prevent these harms from being repeated elsewhere.”

Boyce Hydro has not responded to an email seeking comment.

Heavy rain preceded the dam troubles along the Tittabawassee River and connected lakes in Midland County. The National Weather Service had urged all who lived near the river to seek higher ground. Scores of homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged by the rising river water.

“Experts are saying that this is a 500-year event,” Whitmer said Wednesday. “It’s going to have a major impact on Midland County and beyond for the time to come.”

Some residents have filed civil lawsuits against Boyce Hydro seeking damages. EGLE and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources also have been named as a defendants in a civil suit.

Boyce Hydro's license for the nearly century-old Edenville Dam at Wixom Lake was revoked in 2018 by federal regulations over safety violations. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said it repeatedly raised concerns about the dam’s ability to prevent flooding...