2021 Year in Review

Over the last year, Four Lakes Task Force laid foundational pieces for recovery and restoration. These accomplishments positioned us well for 2022 and we remain optimistic and hopeful that we can successfully restore the lakes if the community works together and stays positive and focused.

​In 2021 we were able to connect with many property owners through 16 public meetings, 60 news flashes and 64 website updates. Our erosion team was also hard at work stabilizing over two miles of shoreline.

Major Accomplishments in 2021

January 13, 2021	Officially receive ownership of Boyce Hydro properties.
March 2021	Interim repairs on Secord and Smallwood dams conclude.
May 2021	Publish comprehensive “Plan for the Restoration of the Four Lakes.”
​​May 20, 2021	​Michigan Legislature proposes $500 million for dam repairs and restoration. The measure includes significant funding for restoration of the Four Lakes and dams.
August 5, 2021	FLTF publishes “Critical Issue #4 Flood Studies and Design Capacity” that indicates the dam design cost estimates from the last study are holding up.
​September 14, 2021	Independent forensic team releases interim report about the failures and the physical and human factors that contributed to the cause of the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam failures. FLTF's engineer and design consultants reviewed the report and will factor the report's findings, through its failure mode analysis process, into the design of the dams.
​October 28, 2021	The Tittabawassee River once again flows in its original path through the Edenville Dam.
​December 2, 2021	​The multi-billion-dollar water infrastructure bill (Senate Supplemental Bill 565) is unanimously reported to the Senate Appropriations Committee and includes an allocation of $250 million to restore the dams and lakes. Since this time the bill has moved out of the Senate and is in House.
December 8, 2021	FLTF announces a new SAD methodology which accounts for more benefit factors and includes an at-large assessment.​
December 2021	​FLTF submits the Secord Dam permit. Permitting for Smallwood Dam will be submitted in early January 2022. ​ EGLE approves the permit for Sanford Dam stabilization. Work will begin January 3, 2022.

In addition, we made considerable progress on dam stabilization for Secord, Smallwood, Wixom and Sanford lakes.

What to Expect in 2022
We’re at a critical point in the restoration process with much to achieve in 2022. Here are some things to expect:

• We hope to see legislation move through the Senate and House in the early part of 2022 that provides funding for restoration
• Bottomland recovery work that addresses erosion, debris removal and vegetation management will continue into 2023
• The implementation of the Four Lakes Special Assessment District Operations Assessment which will take the first half of the year to review by the public and get approval from the counties
• Permitting for construction of Secord and Smallwood dams
• Engineering ramping up for Edenville and Sanford dams in the first few months of 2022
• Completed flood studies and capacity designs that are acceptable to the state which enables us to move forward with the completion of engineering
• Completed stabilization of Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam and the Tobacco River side of Edenville Dam
• Restoration of the Tittabawassee River back to its natural path through Sanford Dam