Case Study: A Small Hydroelectric Dam Navigating FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Program

ABSTRACT ONLY - In May of 2020, Mid-Michigan experienced significant rainfall events that resulted in the catastrophic failure of the Edenville and Sanford Dams. The City of Beaverton (City) operates a small concrete, hydroelectric power dam directly upstream of the Edenville dam and also suffered damages from flooding, though it did not breach or fail. The damages included scour downstream of the dam, buckling of a steel retaining wall downstream of the spillway, and excessive vibrations inside the powerhouse. Following the event, the City engaged Geosyntec Consultants (Geosyntec) to assist them with developing plans to repair the damage, as well as long-term planning for the operation and maintenance of the facility. Geosyntec has worked closely with the City as it navigated the repair process set forth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Hazard Mitigation Program (HMP). This paper presents an overview of the May 2020 Mid-Michigan flood event, the impact on the City of Beaverton Dam, lessons learned while navigating FEMA's HMP funding process, and the perspective from a small dam owner.