FLTF Progress and Future Plans

On Wednesday, August 18, over 250 people joined our public informational communications webinar. During a panel discussion, engineers, consultants and FLTF leadership shared information about flood studies, tasks required to bring up each lake, and updates on each dam. 

Questions submitted via email were answered throughout the presentation and the event concluded with a public comment period. Thank you to everyone who attended!

If you missed the session you may watch a recording or view the slides here.
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Below is a summary of some of the information shared.

Flood Studies to Establish the Dams' Capacities

• Hydrology and hydraulic studies have been conducted to determine the regional rain and flood frequency. This data will be used to determine the spillway capacity for each dam
• Spillway capacity for all dams will be greater than EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) requirements because the methodology used in risk-informed decision-making procedures is being considered as the new State of Michigan standard for inflow design flood (spillway capacity needed by a dam)
• Secord and Smallwood dams next steps:
  • Establish the inflow design flood (IDF) in late 2021
  • Progress through 90% design by early 2022
  • Begin construction second half of 2022
• Edenville and Sanford dams next steps:
  • Complete stabilization construction work by early 2022
  • Full reconstruction design engineering will start in 2022, with the inflow design by the end of 2022
  • Construction begins in 2023

Tasks Required to Bring up Each Lake
​Presenters reviewed the high level tasks required to bring up each lake. More detail about these activities will be shared in future communications. Topics include: 

• Flood modeling
• Engineering and construction
• Environmental permitting
• Financing
• Funding

Special Assessment Timeline
The current timeline for the Special Assessment, as communicated during the meeting, is as follows: 

Operations and Maintenance Special Assessment Roll

• Release the roll estimates and methodology to USDA – November 2021
• Public communications – December 2021–May 2022
• Computation of costs completed – January 2022
• Public input on operations and maintenance assessments – Starting in February 2022
• Assessment hearing(s) – May 2022
• Board of commissioners’ approval – June 2022
• Time allowance for appeal – June 2022 through August 2022
• Operation assessment to be on 2022 Winter taxes (due to county August 2022)

Capital Special Assessment Roll

• Amount and timing are highly dependent on State funding
• If needed, capital assessments will likely be lake-by-lake and start near the year construction begins

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See Presentation Slides

Watch Recording