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Symposium Description:
When two dams in a four-dam system in mid-Michigan failed during an extreme rain event in May of 2020 and two other lakes were lowered, it captured global attention. As the Counties’ Delegated Authority for the lakes, Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) is repairing the dams and restoring the lakes and surrounding ecosystems. It’s blazing an engineering, regulatory and environmental path at a time where there is significant public policy focus on infrastructure. At the Four Lakes Task Force “Path to Four Lakes Restoration: An Engineering and Technical Symposium,” attendees will glimpse the complexity of this restoration project, learn from the firms involved, and be able to talk to the experts responsible for restoring the four lakes and dams. Presentations and panel discussions will cover the following topics: hydrology and hydraulics, dam safety and construction, environmental impacts, and the path forward for Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF). Vendors booths and displays will feature firms and consultants involved in the FLTF project: engineering, meteorology, environmental planning, public policy and government. |
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET Location: Midland Center for the Arts 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd. Midland, MI 48640 Attendees: Those with an interest in and understanding of technical engineering concepts will get the most out of the symposium Registration: Symposium was free to attend. Registration is closed |
Engineering and Technical Symposium agenda
Time |
Session |
Presenter |
7:30 - 8:30 am |
Exhibitor booths open; Attendee check-in |
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8:30 - 9:00 am |
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9:00 - 10:00 am |
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10:15 am - 11:15 am |
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1:00 - 1:45 pm |
Keynote Address |
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1:45 - 2:15 pm |
Path Forward |
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2:30 - 3:30 pm |
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3:30 - 4:00 pm |
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5:00 pm |
Exhibitor booths close |
Session Details
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Session 1 - Welcome and Introduction
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Dave Kepler, President, Four Lakes Task Force Hear a firsthand account of the dam failures and the journey that has unfolded since that time. |
DAVE KEPLER
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Session 2 - Hydrology and Hydraulics of the Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Paul Drew, P.E., Senior Water Resources Engineer and Project Manager, GEI; Co-written by Ellen Faulkner, Water Resources Engineer, Ayres This session will provide a detailed overview of the flood studies recently performed on the Tittabawassee River watershed and how the proposed spillway capacity upgrades at the FLTF dams will safely pass extreme flood events. GEI will present the selection of design storms using a risk-based approach and how the proposed spillway upgrades at each of the FLTF dams exceeds the current State of Michigan EGLE requirements for high hazard dams. This session will be led by GEI’s Program Manager Paul Drew with presentations by water resources engineers working on the project since 2020. |
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Session 3 - Engineering Design and Construction of the Proposed Repairs and Reconstruction of the Four Lakes Dams
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM | Rick Anderson, P.E., GEI; Bill Walton, P.E., S.E., Senior Vice President, GEI; Phil Martin, P.E., Owner, Integrated Engineering and Construction This session will provide a high level overview of the proposed improvements to the Four Lakes Dams. Professional engineers working on the project will discuss the various dam safety issues that need to be addressed, their approach to bring all four dams into compliance with modern dam safety standards, the project scope, sequencing and scheduling for the proposed repairs, and the design approval and construction permitting process. The session will be moderated by GEI’s Rick Anderson, with presentations by GEI’s Engineer-of-Record for Secord and Smallwood dam repair, Bill Walton, and independent consultant, Phil Martin. |
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Session 4 - Keynote Address
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM | Liesl Clark, Director, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Supporting the restoration of the four dams has been a top priority for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Director Clark has visited Midland and Gladwin counties multiple times since the dam failures and has worked closely with FLTF. During her keynote address, Director Clark will provide her thoughts and perspectives on the regulatory role for dam safety through upgrades, removal and reconstruction of dams in Michigan, including the role of FLTF in working alongside EGLE to create safer communities for the state. |
Liesl Clark |
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Session 5 - Path Forward
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Dave Kepler, President, Four Lakes Task Force; Maggie Pallone, Vice President, Public Sector Consultants In May of 2021, one year after the dam failures, Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) published a comprehensive restoration plan that described the restoration path forward including the financial, environmental, engineering, construction and safety implications. During this session, Maggie Pallone and Dave Kepler will discuss how the restoration effort is progressing and what the remaining path ahead looks like |
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Session 6 - An Ecosystems Approach to Lake Restoration
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Maggie Pallone, Vice President, Public Sector Consultants; Dennis McCauley, President, Great Lakes Environmental Center; Jerrod Sanders, Assistant Director, Water Resources Division, State of Michigan; Kelsea Sutton, Project Manager, Spicer Taking an ecosystems approach to restoration involves creating a balanced strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. This session will discuss the ways in which Four Lakes Task Force will utilize the ecosystems approach to determine which man-made interventions will be necessary, and when, to achieve the restoration of the lakes. The session will include commentary from leading scientists, engineers and state regulators on what it will take to restore the lakes. |
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DAVE KEPLER
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