The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Detroit District has received an additional $1.2 million to continue a flood risk management study in Midland County, Michigan. This funding is part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Work Plan and supports the Tittabawassee Watershed Flood Risk Management Study. The Corps is working with Midland County, the City of Midland, and the Midland Business Alliance to address flooding along the Chippewa, Pine, and Tittabawassee Rivers, as reported by MidMichiganNow.
Flooding has been a recurring problem in the Midland area, with major events occurring in 1986, 1996, 2013, 2017, and 2020. These floods caused significant damage and required federal help to develop effective solutions. Before federal funding was provided, a study was already authorized under the 2022 Water Resources Development Act with an initial budget of $3 milliont, according to CBS News Detroit.
Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff, commander of the Corps of Engineers Detroit District, said, "Flood risk management is one of our most important missions in the Detroit District, because it presents an opportunity for us to use our technical expertise in a largescale way to help local communities," as mentioned by MLive. The Corps is conducting a study and will present a report with flood mitigation options such as retention basins and levees. Local community input and congressional support have been important in the process. The report will be reviewed by Congress for possible funding and implementation.
