LANSING — A new GIS mapping tool listing every dam regulated by the State of Michigan, and information about their conditions, is available from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

The tool provides the location of each of the 1059 state-regulated dams structures, ownership information, the body of water it regulates, date of its last reported inspection, hazard potential, and an assessment of its condition. It does not list the 99 Michigan dams regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, nor smaller, unregulated dam structures.

The map is on EGLE’s incident page for the Midland-area dam failure, and directly at this link.

“The failure of the Edenville and Sanford dams has highlighted the dangers of aging and inadequate infrastructure,” said Teresa Seidel, director of EGLE’s Water Resources Division. “We created the map to help the public better understand what dams are in their community and the potential risks to life and property.”

State data shows that of the 1,059 dams, 85 have “high downstream hazard” designation due to their potential for affecting population centers and property. Of those 85, five are rated poor and none are rated unsatisfactory. Some 730 of the dams are privately owned.