HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Flat Rock dam was built in 1926 and has been an integral part of the community, tracing its roots back to the 1700s.
On Thursday (Aug. 14), the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Board of Commissioners voted to recommend a proposal that would make radical changes to it today that they feel will help make it safer.
“The existing structure is 100 years old, more or less, and so by lowering the structure, it will make the overall structure safer,” Amy McMillan, the CEO of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, said after the meeting on Thursday. “We won’t have to worry about breaches and failures of the dam as it exists now.”
The board heard impassioned pleas from residents, as well as Flat Rock Mayor Steve Beller, who made the one-hour drive up I-75, to reject the proposal, which was the second of four alternatives proposed for the dam.
“This is a teardown of the dam; they’re only going to use the foundation,” Beller said after the meeting. “During most of this process, the city of Flat Rock was left out of the planning, so any of our concerns that we could have addressed along the way, we were able to.”
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the dam has had issues with fish not being able to easily pass through the water, which has affected their ability to reproduce.
That proposal follows a feasibility study and involves the partial removal of the flat rock dam, along with the installation of rock arches to enhance fish passage.
Thursday’s recommendation vote moved the proposal forward for a full vote, which is scheduled for Sept. 11 at the Willow Metropark.
The Association is not recommending the full removal of the dam, which they said could cost upwards of $48 million.
The current proposal would cost between $11 and $12 million.
The Michigan Department of the Environment has classified the dam as a high-hazard potential dam. McMillan calls this the best option for maintaining the dam, while Beller disputes it.
“The concrete may have to be repaired if it hasn’t been touched since 1980,” Beller said. “I guess they own, two other high hazard dams that they’re not addressing so I’m curious to see what the what the prior where their priorities are and what the urgency is.”
McMillan says the urgency revolves around wildlife and safety issues, and she feels that now is the time for a change.
“Change is always difficult,” she said. “So, I think that the most important thing that people can do is read the feasibility study, have a clear understanding of how this alternative works.”tracing its roots back to