McPeak is now playing a waiting game. (Photo: Junfu Han and Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press). “I really can’t imagine not getting the lake back,” McPeak said. I own property on Sanford Lake. Wixom Lake, a reservoir of the Edenville Dam was entirely drained after record flooding cause the embankment to fail on Tuesday, March 19, 2020. "We all agree that Boyce is the entity that's accountable for this, but the burden is coming on us to go clean this up, as he (Mueller) enters into bankruptcy," Kepler said. Secord’s lake level is being dropped so crews can perform inspections. "This is a big deal, in terms of both its size and structure, but also the economic impact if we don't do this — and then the affordability for individuals if we do do it," said Dave Kepler, chairman of the Four Lakes Task Force, in an online meeting Thursday. He had seven feet of water in his basement, shown here, and … “The value of the properties is going down since it’s not a resort property anymore.”. “Everyone’s concerned about the Fourth of July, not having water for boating,” he said. Michigan dam failures force 10,000 to evacuate and could leave one city under 9 feet of water. This footage was filmed on June 1, 2020. Delduca knows there is a lot of work to be done along the lakeside, but she believes the lake and its surrounding properties will recover over time. Rains and floods extended to central and eastern China during July and were described as the worst since at least 1998.. Wixom Lake has just over 2,500 lakefront property owners; Secord Lake nearly 1,900; Sanford almost 900 and Smallwood nearly 650. May 21, 2020 / 4:28 PM / CBS/AP Now the lake is lowered as inspection crews evaluate the Smallwood Dam. Question and Answer (Dave Kepler) Agenda. If not removed soon, the tightly clustered trees could be roughly 15–20-feet tall by 2023, the year slated for the completion of all upgrades and repairs for the dams. He isn’t worrying about his property value, as he has no plans on moving, even if the lake doesn’t return. Introduction and Welcome (Phil Dast) 2. While his home was left untouched by the flood, Huss has been working with his neighbors to help clear flooded houses. Contact Keith Matheny: 313-222-5021 or [email protected]. The cost estimates are based on an ability to pay over 40 years, which isn't currently allowed under state law. The area where the Edenville dam used to be until it failed sending floodwaters through the area to as far south as Midland, devastating towns along the way. Huss’ home, which stands 23 feet above the lake, was untouched by the flood; the only damage he sustained was losing a section of his dock. I own property on Secord Lake. All rights reserved. Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in. She might’ve considered selling the house, but it’s deeply engrained in her past and is promised to her children in the future. He has repeatedly ignored the FERC requirements for maintenance of the dams claiming inability to pay. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy recently took action to perform its own assessment of ongoing safety concerns at the dam, after becoming frustrated with the pace and completeness of information coming from Boyce Hydro Power. The task force's commissioned engineering consultant, GEI Consulting, places the probable construction cost for restoring the damaged dams and lakes behind them at $338 million — $208 million for the Edenville Dam and Wixom Lake; $92 million for Sanford dam and lake; $24 million for Secord Lake and $14 million for Smallwood. Hopper believes it will take weeks for assessments to be completed. "I don't know if we can get the property owners' match to zero, but we're certainly going to try to offset that match as we move forward," he said. Updated May 21 , 2020; Posted May 21, 2020 . Heavy rains, dam failures and devastating flooding last week have left lakefront communities wondering about the future. But it was different in 1986,” McPeak said. Feds warned years ago Edenville Dam couldn’t handle a historic flood. Huss has no knowledge of whether the lake’s water level will be restored as that decision will be determined if and when the Sanford Dam will be rebuilt. The task force is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service on stabilization of the damaged dams, addressing ongoing erosion and debris removal. “The water rose probably 12 feet on average. Wixom lake is located in Mid Michigan. "Rest assured we are going to try to exhaust everything we can to lower these numbers," he said. Flood warnings in Michigan were issued following widespread rainfall of 4 to 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 centimeters) since Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The Conservation Service is willing to fund 75% of the work, and the task force is working on how to fill out its matching portion, Kepler said. Anyone had a house on water level had damage to their home,” Hopper said. The four lakes along the Tittabawassee and Tobacco rivers were created by hydro-power dams operated since 2004 by Boyce Hydro Power LLC. The task force was created by Midland and Gladwin counties to oversee the dams and lakes. Major floods occurred on June 24, 2017, September 13, 1986, March 21, 1948, and June 3, 1943. Residents along less-impacted but also flood-damaged Secord and Smallwood dams and lakes face annual assessments for 40 years of about $240 to nearly $600. Eric McPeak’s family has owned property on Wixom Lake since the 1940s, and this year was the first time their family cottage has experienced flooding. Despite the difficult conditions on Friday, it was actually far worse back in Nov. 2020. Midland County’s Sanford Lake is … Until then, it’s a waiting game. "We believe that we have legislative and administrative support on that, so we believe that will happen.". You do not need a Facebook profile to participate. GLADWIN CO., Mich. (WJRT) (10/15/2020)-Major problems stemming from that May flooding remain in Gladwin County: access to water. Since early June 2020, heavy rains caused by the regional rainy season led to floods severely affecting large areas of southern China including the Yangtze basin and its tributaries. A phone call to Mueller's attorney wasn't immediately returned Friday. “My daughter worked tirelessly,” Delduca said. Frequently Asked Questions (Dave Kepler) 3. Residents consider futures on flood-affected properties along Secord, Smallwood, Wixom and Sanford lakes, https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Residents-consider-futures-on-flood-affected-15303749.php, Daughters of the American Revolution celebrate women's heart health, Creative 360 releases schedule of upcoming events, Lavish Style Studios offers hairstylists safe place to work, Beaverton Antique Mall draws from around the state, 'BOOST Act' aims to increase rural broadband access. (Source: Ben Hodi) Boyce principal partner Lee Mueller has blamed the dam failures on pressure from the state of Michigan and lakefront residents to keep water levels high. She and her children still regularly make trips to the lake house which was built in the 1940s. The Army Corps also keeps elevation records for Lake St. Clair. A breach at the Edenville Dam in Midland County Wednesday, May 20, 2020. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. McPeak, who lives in Midland, feels the value of his family’s property, along with his neighbors’ land, has decreased significantly since the flood. Those living along Wixom and Sanford lakes could pay thousands per year — for 40 years — to bring the lakes back from May's flood damage. Jacquob Littlejohn, 23, of Standish was displaced by the flood on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. I'm interested in updates/other . “I don’t foresee people wanting to sell their property. Hudler questioned whether some who live around the lakes will be able to afford the ongoing assessments. In the meantime, the residents are collecting donations for harder-hit areas, including Sanford and Wixom lakes. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revoked Boyce's hydropower-generating license on the Edenville Dam in 2018, citing years of the dam owners failing to address safety concerns, especially the dam's inability to withstand a big flood. Secord Lake Update August 10, 2020. He and his siblings are cleaning out the cottage and plan to make necessary repairs, but they will wait to see if the Edenville Dam will be restored and the lake levels return to normal before investing much more into the property in case the lake doesn’t return. Neither Delduca nor her neighbors have flood insurance. Residents along flood-ravaged lakes in Midland and Gladwin counties are learning what it might cost them personally to restore the lakes and dams wrecked in May floods — and they might be in for sticker shock. Hopper plans on keeping his home on Secord Lake and expects his neighbors will stay for the time being as well. He was touched at seeing the community of Sanford band together in these difficult times. I own property on Wixom Lake. Updated May 21, 2020; Posted May 20, 2020 . We spoke with people on Smallwood, Secord, Sanford and Wixom lakes about their perspectives. Docks along the shores of Wixom Lake appear to be on the edge of a canyon as the water from the lake drained south after the Edenville Dam failed sending floodwaters south to the communities of Sanford and Midland. The task force expects completion of its feasibility study for the four dams by next spring, and several public meetings with county and local officials and affected property owners will occur, Kepler said. © 2021 www.freep.com. 2020 (Destroyed by Flood) Dam and spillways; Type of dam: Earth fill dam: Impounds: Tittabawassee River: Height: 54 ft (16 m) Length: 6,600 ft (2,000 m) Reservoir; Creates: Wixom Lake: Total capacity: 66,200 acre feet (81,700,000 m 3) Surface area: 5.7 sq mi (15 km 2) Edenville Dam was an earthen embankment dam at the confluence of the Tittabawassee River and the Tobacco River in Mid … In Saginaw County, the river flows through Tittabawassee Township, which is named for the river and contains the unincorporated community of Freeland. It feeds Smallwood Lake, followed by Wixom Lake, which is split by the Midland/Gladwin county border. Gov. I am part of the press/media. An estimated $20 million in stabilization work is needed right away. They’ll be a bit gun-shy,” he said. Mueller attorney Lawrence Kogan did not return a message from the Free Press seeking comment. Charles Hudler, a Wixom lakefront resident, was startled by the assessment estimate. Our daughter lives next door. "I knew the number was going to be larger than what they initially planned, but I did not anticipate a number that big, or for that long," he said. Frequently Asked Questions on Secord Will Secord … FLTF Dam Restoration Concept (Ron Hansen) 3.