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County approves grant applications for Tyler and Bayer dam projects; commissioners press for match plan
Summary
On March 5 the Board authorized submitting grant applications to EGLE and U.S. Fish & Wildlife for dam removal and fish passage projects at Tyler and Bayer dams; commissioners raised a gap of roughly $1 million in local match and asked administration for funding options.
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved resolutions on March 5 to submit grant applications for projects tied to Tyler and Bayer dams and for fish passage work. County staff said engineering and permitting work is underway; the grant requests would fund large capital work that county staff described as necessary to reduce recurring neighborhood flooding upstream of the dams and to improve aquatic passage.
Why it matters: county staff described recurring flood impacts to low‑opportunity neighborhoods upstream of the Bayer dam. An engineering and hydrology study funded in part by Ypsilanti Township showed the dam can raise water levels substantially in rain events, contributing to street and yard flooding and property damage.
Financials and match requirements: staff said the larger removal and downstream/upstream restoration packages could total in the multimillions; one EJ/EGLE application requires local partner contributions that staff estimate could approach $1,000,000 in combined match. County staff told commissioners that if the grants are awarded the board would still need to approve any local funds used as matches and that some match conversations would include Ypsilanti Township and the road commission because of an affected county road crossing at Tyler.
Commissioner questions and next steps: a number of commissioners asked where local match would come from if the grants are awarded. County staff said there are no standing county cash reserves set aside for such matches and that the county plans to pursue federal, state and local partner contributions (including conversations with U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell’s office and the county’s lobbying firm). Staff also described a smaller scope option limited to dam removal without the broader neighborhood interventions, and estimated a lower total cost in that scenario (staff estimated around $10 million for a reduced scope; combined removal plus neighborhood work could be higher). If grants are not awarded, staff said they will complete design and permitting and place projects on hold until funding is identified.
Votes: the board approved the resolutions authorizing grant applications in a roll‑call vote.
