Wixom Lake

Wixom Lake was a reservoir in the U.S. state of Michigan from 1925 to 2020.[1] It was named after Frank Wixom, who was instrumental in building the Edenville Dam.[2] Unusual for its size, Wixom Lake boasts a lighthouse on Musselman Island.[3][4] From 2019 to 2020, an agreement to buy the dam and reservoir by the Four Lakes Task Force, a "county-delegated authority" under the State of Michigan, from Boyce Hydro L.L.C. was in place,[5][6] However, in May 2020, the lake was destroyed when the earthen dam used to impound it overtopped and then collapsed.[7] From 2018 to 2020, the impoundment was regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).[8]

Past features of Wixom Lake

The lake typically had a surface area of 1,980 acres (8.0 km2), a shoreline of more than 84 miles (135 km), a maximum capacity of 66,200 acre-feet (81,700,000 m3), a normal capacity of 36,000 acre-feet (44,000,000 m3),[9] and a maximum depth of 40 feet (12 m).[1]

Normal Elevation, in feet, of Tittabawassee River reservoirs
Lake NameSummerWinter
Secord750.8747.8
Smallwood704.8701.8
Wixom675.8672.8
Sanford630.8627.8

Wixom Lake was the third in a series of four reservoirs along the Tittabawassee River, each controlled to a lower elevation during the winter flood control season and a higher elevation during the summer recreation season.[10] In April 2020, Michigan's EGLE sued the dam's operator, alleging it had lowered Wixom Lake's water level without permission in 2018 and 2019, killing thousands of freshwater mussels.[11][12]

Incidents

2018–2019 lake draining and lawsuits

The water level in the lake was lowered by its operator in 2018 and 2019. It said it had requested permission from Michigan's EGLE, which failed to issue it. Despite the lack of a permit, it said it lowered the water "due to concern for the safety of its operators and the downstream community", and it proceeded to sue EGLE in federal court on April 29, 2020.[13]

The following day, EGLE countersued the dam's operator, alleging it had lowered Wixom Lake's water level without permission, killing thousands of freshwater mussels.[11][14]

2020 dam failure and destruction

In May 2020, during severe Tittabawasee River floods, a large earthen section of the Edenville Dam collapsed, requiring evacuations downstream, completely emptying the lake, and rerouting the river to a new course immediately downstream. Governor Gretchen Whitmer subsequently declared a state of emergency for Midland County. Requests to also aid Gladwin County residents is under review by governors staff.[15]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wixom Lake
  2. Smith, Jerry. "Genealogy of Gladwin area place names". Gladwin County Record and Beaverton Clarion. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  3. Price, Cathy Nelson (May 23, 2007). "Musselman Island: Est. 2001, pop. 2". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  4. Jason (September 8, 2007). "Wixom Lake Lighthouse". Retrieved May 20, 2020 – via Flickr.
  5. Chris Clor (April 24, 2019). "Task Force Agrees to Buy Dams, Restore Wixom Lake in Gladwin Co". 9 and 10 News. Retrieved May 20, 2020. Wednesday the task force announced it agreed to buy the Wixom, Sanford, Secord and Smallwood dams from Boyce for nearly $9.5 million.
  6. Lyden, David (April 25, 2019). "Wixom Lake Levels Expected to Return to Normal as Task Force Agrees to Buy Dams". 9 and 10 News. Retrieved May 20, 2020. The Four Lakes Task Force agreed to buy Wixom, Sanford, Secord and Smallwood dams from Boyce Hydro for nearly $9.5 million
  7. "Four Lakes Task Force, as Delegated Authority for the Counties of Midland and Gladwin, Michigan" (PDF). Gladwin County, Michigan. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020. the Four Lakes Task Force, in its capacity as the County Delegated Authority for the Four Lakes Special Assessment District
  8. Erin Ailworth; John D. Stoll (May 20, 2020). "Failed Michigan Dam Lost License in 2018". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2020. After its license was revoked by FERC, regulation of the Edenville dam was taken over by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in 2018. Spokesman Nick Assendelft said the agency inspected the dam in October 2018 and found it structurally sound
  9. "Wixom Lake". ww5.findlakes.com. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  10. "Frequently Asked Questions". Four Lakes Task Force. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  11. Flesher, John (May 20, 2020). "Michigan dam had repeated safety violations before flooding". Washington Post. Associated Press. The company twice lowered Wixom Lake's level without permission after the federal license was revoked, said Nick Assendelft, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which has overseen the Edenville barrier since its federal license was withdrawn [...] A lawsuit filed April 30 says the lengthy drawdowns in 2018 and 2019 killed "thousands, if not millions" of freshwater mussels, many listed as endangered species
  12. Riley Beggin; Mike Wilkinson; Kelly House, Bridge Magazine (May 20, 2020). "Feds revoked dam's license over safety issues. Then Michigan deemed it safe". Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2020. State officials alleged Boyce's dams lowered the lake without permission in 2018 and 2019, and sued the company in April alleging the actions killed "thousands if not millions" of endangered freshwater mussels.
  13. Garret Ellison (21 May 2020). "Failed dam owner fought with state over Wixom Lake levels before flood". Booth Newspapers. MLive. Retrieved 21 May 2020. Boyce says it asked EGLE for permission to lower Wixom Lake last fall "due to concern for the safety of its operators and the downstream community." EGLE and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources denied the request. Boyce lowered the lake without approval in mid-November "believing its safety concerns were paramount." Boyce sued the state on April 29 in Grand Rapids federal court
  14. Riley Beggin; Mike Wilkinson; Kelly House, Bridge Magazine (20 May 2020). "Feds revoked dam's license over safety issues. Then Michigan deemed it safe". Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2020. State officials alleged Boyce's dams lowered the lake without permission in 2018 and 2019, and sued the company in April alleging the actions killed "thousands if not millions" of endangered freshwater mussels.
  15. Acosta, Roberto (May 19, 2020). "Residents told to evacuate after Edenville Dam failure in Gladwin County". MLive. Retrieved 19 May 2020.

43°49′25″N 84°21′44″W


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