MDEQ Dam Safety
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Dam Safety Program administers the provisions of Part 307 and Part 315 of The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. There are over 2,500 dams in the State, with 91 of those regulated by Part 307 (Inland Lake Levels) and 816 regulated by Part 315 (Dam Safety).

Part 307, Inland Lake Levels, regulates dams that establish legal lake levels while Part 315, Dam Safety, regulates all other dams over six feet in height and with more than five acres impounded during the design flood. A MDEQ permit must be acquired prior to any construction or repair of regulated dams. Additionally, these dams must be inspected every three to five years based on hazard potential rating. Staff at MDEQ is responsible for reviewing all inspection reports, inspecting all Department of Natural Resources dams, and inspecting municipal dams if requested.

MDEQ Dam Safety

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has regulatory control over all hydroelectric facilities and project operations that impact interstate trade, have post-1935 construction, use surplus water or waterpower from a federal dam, occupy federal lands, or are located on navigable water. In Michigan, we have over 100 FERC-regulated hydroelectric dams. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has considerable management responsibility on rivers that have hydroelectric facilities on them. Hydroelectric facilities limit resource management options on watersheds by adversely impacting both the riverine environment and the aquatic ecosystem in which they operate. The MDNR's role as a state resource agency is to: 1) recommend data needs to evaluate these facilities; 2) recommend measures to mitigate adverse impacts; and 3) recommend license conditions for each project. FERC, however, is the ultimate decision-maker in the licensing process.

FERC Hydro