EGLE Leadership Affirms Support to Rebuild the dams

The FLTF Restoration Plan identifies four critical issues that could impact our ability to restore the lakes. One is to have support from and collaboration with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) on the Environmental Restoration Plan. 

In a letter dated June 29, 2021, EGLE Director Liesl Clark thanked FLTF for its cooperative engagement with the Agency and affirmed its support of our path forward.

"Your [The FLTF] April 20, 2021, letter outlined several important decisions that the Four Lakes Task Force is facing regarding the next steps of recovery along the river, including whether the failed dams should be rebuilt. While EGLE must honor its regulatory oversight role related to this prospective decision, EGLE will support the Midland and Gladwin Counties’ communities if they decide the best course of action is to rebuild the dams and restore the lakes."

In FLTF President Dave Kepler’s response to director Clark, he stated:
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“Amidst this tragedy, Boyce bankruptcy, and surrender of the FERC licenses, FLTF and EGLE have understood their respective roles, yet have stood side by side on the question of returning water to these lakes and have collaborated in working through many issues to move toward this goal.
I personally want to thank you for your commitment to our community since your visit a few days after the dams failed on May 19, 2020, and for keeping this a top EGLE priority by supporting the FLTF progress until restoration is completed.”

Having the support of the state and federal regulatory community is vital to FLTF's ability to move forward to restore the lakes. The Environmental Restoration Plan will be a multi-million dollar, multi-year effort, and is needed for the long-term health of the lake ecosystems and the construction permitting of the Edenville and Sanford dams.

For further reading, the letters between EGLE and FLTF on regulatory oversight and the Restoration Plan are linked below, along with other communications between agency and elected officials.

Read Letter from Liesl Clark