FLTF Position on Proposed Legislation

Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) is grateful for the recently introduced legislation that provides significant funding toward dam restoration.
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We have advocated for similar bipartisan support since May 2020. We ask our elected officials to work collaboratively to ensure the proposed funding is passed by the legislators and signed into law by the governor. These bills would alleviate the significant financial burden currently being placed on the community and restore the ecosystem, recreation, and livelihoods of thousands of people, many of whom are retirees on fixed incomes and have limited resources, that were impacted by dam failures they did not cause.

Understanding the Legislation
House and Senate bills have been filed and are awaiting action in the legislature.

Dam Repair Funding Bills
House Bills 4907 and 4904 Senate Bills 469 and 470
FLTF is grateful for the funding bills, and we fully support their passage. We urge our elected officials to allocate $225 million to the repair of the Secord, Smallwood, Edenville, and Sanford dams for the restorations of the Four Lakes in Midland and Gladwin counties. This will significantly lessen the burden on property owners and ensure a long-term, sustainable future for the dams, lakes, their communities, and ecosystem.

​We urge those within our lake communities to advocate for the passage of the funding bills. These bills will help make affordable for all property owners any future special assessment in connection with the dam operations and ensure an uninterrupted path to restoring our lakes and dams.

Dam Safety Bills
House Bill 4903/Senate Bill 471 and House Bill 4906/Senate Bill 468
In addition to the legislation that would provide significant funding for the restoration of the dams, there is legislation that would modernize Michigan’s dam safety programs. These bills amend Part 307 and Part 315 of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act of 1994 to improve dam safety. They place more requirements on the owners of dams. They also give increased oversight and authority to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) as it relates to dam safety.

​This is a historic opportunity to improve dam safety in Michigan and FLTF welcomes the opportunity to participate in the development of an improved Michigan dam safety program, as these bills progress through the House and Senate over the coming months. Much of our implementation is based on FLTF moving forward using standards that we expect will be aligned with expected new laws.

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Your Input Is More Important than Ever
Contact Links for Michigan Elected Officials

​U.S. Congress
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow: https://www.stabenow.senate.go...
U.S. Sen. Gary C. Peters: https://www.peters.senate.gov/...
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar: https://moolenaar.house.gov/co...
U.S. Rep. Daniel T. Kildee: https://dankildee.house.gov/co...
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell: https://debbiedingell.house.go...
U.S. Rep. Brenda L. Lawrence: https://lawrence.house.gov/con...

State of Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: website
House Speaker Jason Wentworth: [email protected]
Sen. Jim Stamas: [email protected]
Rep. Annette Glenn: [email protected]
Rep. Roger Hauck: [email protected]