COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Drain Commissioner Mike Hard told the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their work session on Thursday that property owners near the Blackhawk Dam want the dam rebuilt.
Hard said that was spelled out to him during a recent informational meeting.
Some options are being looked at.
After almost failing in 2018, Hard told Commission Chair Tim Stoll it is still considered an “at risk” dam.
Hard oversees nine dams in Branch County. Last year at this time, it was reported that it would cost about $2 million to repair the dam with about 30 parcels being accessed for that amount.
The dam came close to failing on August 19, 2018. Branch County emergency management officials warned on that day of significant flooding in the Coldwater River area including Pilot Knob on Coldwater’s west side.
Hard estimated at the time the dam held back 38 million gallons of water and if it had let go, they were in trouble.
He credited quick action by the property owner and private contractors working for Hard’s office in preventing a flood.
There has been countless cases of dams and bridges collapsing all across the US because of neglect. In many cases this neglect ends up costing millions of dollars in damages and many times people are killed in these preventable disasters. Lets not kick the can down the road like our federal government does. Fix the dam dam!