ALLEGAN, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The future of the remaining dam along the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County will be considered on Wednesday night.
Officials of Consumers Energy will be on hand at 6 PM in Allegan High School for a community meeting on the fate of the Calkins Dam. This is one of 13 such sessions the Jackson-based utility is holding statewide through October to go over the dams it has licensed for electrical generating power.
Those federal licenses begin to expire in 2034, and utilities are taking a harder look at whether to continue operating dams since the failure of Edenville Dam near Midland over two years ago, causing widespread flooding damage.
The Calkins Dam has been in place since 1936; removal of the Trowbridge Dam off of 26th Street in Allegan is set to be completed this year.
I could not make the meeting tonight but I am a resident of Allegan and I’m very interested in having the Lake continue to exist. If anyone could share any additional information regarding this in this post I would appreciate it.
I also was unable to make the meeting. We have a house on the North shore of Lake Allegan, and the lake was our reason for building there. We are anxious to know if there is any intention to remove the Calkins Dam, and would be vehemently opposed to such an action.
I would be grateful of any additional information.
Tony
From Allegan County Board Chairman Jim Storey (R-Holland), who attended the meeting: “A crowd of 100 to 200 attended a community meeting August 31 called by Consumers Energy officials to discuss the future of the Calkins Street (Allegan) Dam. The Calkins hydroelectric dam is one of 13 across the lower peninsula that will need attention by the utility when their federal licenses expire in the years ahead. Consumers officials outlined the options for the meeting attendees. They include decommissioning the generating units and dam, selling the facility, turning it over to the state, and removing the dam itself. While not an imminent decision, it is of great concern to Valley Township, county emergency management, and residents who have invested in Lake Allegan property. More information on the process towards decision is available here.”