DETROIT -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, will receive an additional $1.2 million in funding under the Fiscal Year 2025 Work Plan to continue its Tittabawassee Watershed Flood Risk Management Study.
The Corps of Engineers along with the study’s nonfederal sponsors – Midland County, the City of Midland, and the Midland Business Alliance – are partners on the study to investigate major riverine flooding affecting communities in Midland County. The Midland area experienced significant flooding in 1986, 1996, 2013, 2017 and 2020 causing extensive damage and leading community officials to request assistance in identifying potential solutions.
“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,” said Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff, Corps of Engineers Detroit District commander. “The strong involvement of community members and our sponsors has allowed USACE to make outstanding progress with the funding previously received. Receipt of the FY25 Work Plan funds allows us to continue and represents how important this effort is at a federal level. We are thankful for the support received from numerous congressional members.”
The study was authorized in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act for $3 million to initiate a flood risk management study for the Tittabawassee Watershed, which includes the Chippewa, Pine, and Tittabawassee Rivers.
The additional allocation furthers modeling and investigation of alternatives to reduce flood damage in the study area. At the conclusion of the study, the Corps of Engineers will present a report with an array of suggested flood mitigation measures, such as retention basins and/or levees, to the Corps of Engineers Chief of Engineers. Those recommendations will then be presented to Congress for consideration to fund and implement.
“We are excited that significant progress continues to be made on this General Investigation (GI) study of flood risk management in our watershed,” said Bridgette Gransden, Midland County administrator/controller.
“The local partners look forward to working with the Detroit District every step of the way during this critical study of the Tittabawassee River Watershed,” said Brad Kaye, Midland city manager. “The experienced, knowledgeable team assembled by the Corps of Engineers is enthusiastic, and so are we.”
“We are thankful that funding for this important study is continuing,” said Tony Stamas, Midland Business Alliance president and CEO. “The Corps of Engineers and the local sponsors are committed to this study and to finding flood reduction options for the Midland area. We also appreciate the continued support of our legislators in Lansing and in Washington, D.C.”
The Detroit District received $558.9 million in Fiscal Year 25 Work Plan investment. For more about the projects funded, visit https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/News/News-Releases/Display/Article/4188026/detroit-district-receives-5589-million-investment-from-fy25-work-plan/
Corps of Engineers’ Fiscal Year 2025 Work Plan can be found here: https://www.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/budget/#Work-Plans.
Contact Detroit District Public Affairs at lrepao@usace.army.mil.