By Gari Voss
The City of Allegan was announced as one of 22 projects that would receive funding through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE’s) Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program. EGLE stated that a high-hazard dam is typically in satisfactory condition, but has a significant issue which requires addressing.
$14.1 million was allocated for 2024 projects with $1 million dedicated to repairing the Allegan City Dam, $500,000 awarded to the MI DNR to conduct a feasibility study on removing the Swan Greek Dam, and another $300,000 to repair the Trowbridge Dam until the Superfund project can manage the contamination concerns at the present site of the dam.
Historically, a dam across the Kalamazoo was believed to have been constructed as early as 1835. In 1900, the dam, named the Imperial Carving Dam, was constructed for hydromechanical power. By 1910, the principal spillway structure was installed then in 1920, the dam was converted to hydroelectric power.
It was not until 1997 that the City of Allegan purchased the dam to maintain the waterfront above the dam. In that year, the powerhouse ceased operation and has since been condemned.
Then in 2000 and 2003, the MI DEQ (now EGLE) explained that the deterioration of the dam caused a safety hazard. The MI DNR Fisheries Division recommended removal, but the City insisted on keeping the dam to maintain the riverfront.
The City of Allegan Dam has been on the radar for removal because of its location along the Superfund contamination flow. PFAS removal efforts are currently being concentrated on contamination above the Trowbridge Dam.
Though Allegan is looking forward to dam removal, EGLE has rated the dam as a “high-hazard dam in poor condition” which made it eligible to request money through the Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program.
“We asked for $2.8 million to make improvements, and they awarded $1 million. We will have to find additional funding to complete the original plan,” shared City Manager Joel Dye. “We are in the process of working with EGLE in listing possible tasks on which to focus the funds. We know that we will need to scale back what we hoped to accomplish.”
One of the original tasks that EGLE suggested was to install new stop logs to control the flow of water. Dye shared that these were installed in the fall of 2023, before the grant was awarded. The cost of that project will not be reimbursed with current grant funds, so other possibilities are being explored.
Knowing that the City of Allegan Dam will eventually be removed, the questions turned to what safety improvements could be completed that would also assist when removal occurs. That will be a piece to take into consideration as grant tasks are being explored.
“The decisions on which tasks to focus the million are still in the infant stages,” Dye explained. “The money has been set aside for Allegan, but the plan for expenditure has not been designed. When the plan is finalized, the contract with completion dates for expenditure will be completed.”
Dye feels fortunate to have access to these funds. The stop logs have made the dam safer. The need to do further improvements has moved the conversations forward in designing a plan. The final contract for expenditure will be written when the design for tasks has been completed. The dam remains an important deterrent of PFAS contamination from moving downstream, so all stakeholders are cautious in the next steps.
