EGLE Endorses Dam Safety Legislation As Historic Flooding Showcases Concerns

Michigan Advance

April 28, 2026

As communities throughout Michigan remain under a state of emergency for flooding, the state’s environmental agency is calling for improvements to Michigan’s dam safety regulations, with heavy rain and snow melt pushing several structures to their brink.

Heading into 2026, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy placed improving stormwater management and dam safety as one of its top priorities. Now the department has given its approval to a piece of legislation from state Rep. Bill Schuette (R-Midland) to expand oversight and funding of dams across the state, noting that $1 billion is needed for statewide infrastructure upgrades.

Schuette’s House Bill 5485, which will receive a hearing in the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism on Wednesday, aims to modernize the state’s dam regulations. It would require dam owners to register with the state and develop comprehensive safety, inspection and asset management strategies.

The bill would also increase the frequency of inspections and raise design and safety standards to ensure dams can better withstand extreme weather and changing climate conditions. Additionally, it would create new funding and emergency response tools, including a dedicated emergency fund and grant program for dams at high risk of failure.

“Under Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s leadership, we’ve made historic investments to repair and remove aging dams, helping protect communities and reduce long-term risk,” EGLE Director Phil Roos said in a statement. “We have a solid foundation in place, and now we need to strengthen our tools that support dam safety. Proposed legislation builds on that progress by modernizing oversight, increasing accountability to ensure we can better safeguard people, infrastructure and our natural resources.”

According to EGLE, there are more than 2,500 dams across Michigan, with about 1,100 regulated by the state. Between 2022 and 2025, EGLE’s Dam Risk Reduction Program has provided funding for 20 dam removals, 16 rehabilitation efforts and 20 engineering studies.

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