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CASS COUNTY — The Cass County Drain Commissioner’s Office was recently awarded a $65,800 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to fund the engineering and permitting of the McMillan Dam Removal in Marcellus.

The project was one of 19 dam projects awarded grant funding in EGLE’s risk-reduction program, which allocated $14.9 million for maintenance, removal and reconstruction of dams throughout the state.

Cass County Drain Commissioner Jeff VanBelle said the McMillan Dam, located just west of Lawrence Road in Volinia Township, is “a redundant control structure” designed to regulate the legal lake level of Fish, Saddlebag and Finch Lakes.

According to the project description, the key goals are to reduce or eliminate the risk of dam failure, comply with regulatory requirements, and protect public and environmental health.

“A recent inspection indicated that the dam has inadequate spillway capacity and embankment damage which could result in failure,” VanBelle wrote.

The McMillan Dam will eventually be removed, and the Finch Lake control structure will be reconstructed to ensure it meets state safety requirements. Control structures are designed to direct water flow, regulate the amount of water released and control water surface elevation.

The removal of the dam will restore natural stream flow, improve hydraulic conveyance, enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats and reduce risks associated with dam failure, sediment buildup, and poor water quality.  

“These grant opportunities help counties like Cass remove old aging structures, preventing dam failures from ever occurring,” VanBelle said.