Great Lakes Water Authority Partners with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Regional Flood Mitigation Study
- Partnership will study flooding problems across southeast Michigan and formulate alternatives to reduce flood risk
- Initial funding for the study ($500,000) is contained in federal appropriations for fiscal year 2024 and funding for fiscal year 2025 is pending Congressional approval; GLWA will provide a 50/50 match with in-kind-services to complete the study
- Study kicked off with three-day technical planning charrette attended by key regional partners to establish the project’s broad goals and objectives
DETROIT— The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) has announced it is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to study flooding problems across southeast Michigan and formulate alternatives to help reduce flood risk. At the study’s end, a tentatively selected plan will be presented for consideration of further federal and non-federal funding to improve infrastructure and flood resiliency across the region.
“The extreme rain events we continue to see in southeast Michigan, as well as across the United States and the world are real-life examples of the devastating impacts that climate impacts are having on people and the communities in our region,” said Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E., Chief Executive Officer, GLWA. “While we have made significant investments to improve resiliency in the GLWA collection and conveyance system over the last several years, our partnership with the USACE will help us take another big step to improve the system by developing a long-term strategy for the entire region.”
The flood mitigation study has received initial funding of $500,000 in congressionally approved allocations for fiscal year 2024 with second year funding of $600,000 pending Congressional approval for fiscal year 2025. GLWA will be providing a 50/50 match with in-kind-services to complete the study. USACE and GLWA will co-lead the study inside USACE’s established framework.
The study officially kicked off with a recent ceremonial signing of the agreement between the USACE and GLWA and the completion of a three-day technical planning charrette attended by more than 50 people from a cross-section of key stakeholder groups. During the charrette, existing flood risk conditions in southeast Michigan were established, priorities for the region were discussed, a deep dive was taken into existing data, and a preliminary list of structural and non-structural flood management measures designed to alleviate flooding were identified.
USACE has helped mitigate flood impacts on communities for nearly 100 years, looking at the risks associated with potential flooding, informed by both previous storms and flood events, while also analyzing climate change scenarios through modeling and forecasting future potential storm events. These assessments help communities better understand the loss of life and other damages that could result from flooding, and how to potentially reduce a community’s vulnerability through the development and communication of knowledge, technology, and solutions.
“USACE is excited to move forward on this important study for southeast Michigan. GLWA has been an outstanding partner, and we are confident in the team’s ability to find viable solutions to help address the historic flooding across the region,” said Alex Jimenez, USACE Detroit District’s Chief of Planning. “In 2022, Congress expanded USACE’s authority to study rainfall-driven flooding, so the study will be groundbreaking not only for the region, but also for USACE.”
“This study is unprecedented in the state of Michigan, and it will equip us with data that will help us better advocate for the region when it comes to accessing federal dollars,” said Todd King, System Resiliency Officer, GLWA. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us to partner with the highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals at the USACE to develop comprehensive solutions that will help the region build flood resiliency and protect the communities we serve.”
Throughout the course of the multi-year study, GLWA and USACE plan to conduct extensive community outreach to seek the input of a broad range of regional stakeholders, including the public.
“Addressing flooding in southeast Michigan is important to so many people in our region, given the damages and impacts communities have faced over the last decade,” said Susan Rusinowski, USACE’s Lead Planner for the study. “The USACE and GLWA team’s priority is to work alongside regional stakeholders and the community throughout the study process, seeking input from the people most affected by flood risk.”
GLWA’s regional wastewater system serves approximately 2.8 million residents in southeast Michigan, including portions of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, and the entire city of Detroit. For more information on how GLWA is improving its water and wastewater infrastructure, please visit www.glwater.org/cip.
About the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) is the provider-of-choice for drinking water services to nearly 40 percent, and efficient and effective wastewater services to nearly 30 percent, of Michigan’s population. With the Great Lakes as source water, GLWA is uniquely positioned to provide those it serves with water of unquestionable quality. GLWA also has the capacity to extend its services beyond its 88 member partner communities. As part of its commitment to water affordability, the Authority offers a Water Residential Assistance Program to assist low-income households in participating member communities throughout the system. GLWA’s board includes one representative each from Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties, two representatives from the city of Detroit, and one appointed by the Michigan governor to represent member partner communities outside of the tri-county area.
