A new study is underway in Midland County to improve flood resiliency. Midland has a history of floods. Significant flooding events in 1986, 2017 and 2020 devastated the region.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is partnering with county officials to conduct a three-year study focusing on the Tittabawassee River Watershed and its historic flood patterns. This are one of only five general investigation studies being conducted by the Army Corp this year, according to county officials.
The goal of the study is to manage flood risks to life and safety and reduce damage in the event of any future flooding.
“The Army corps was brought in because the problems and the challenges that we have with flooding are beyond the ability of the city of midland to implement on our own, or even the county of Midland to implement on their own,” said Brad Kaye, the city manager of Midland.
The Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District said they brought together a project team from around the county including diverse disciplines that range from economists and planners to hydraulic and geotechnical engineers.
According to Kaye, the city is providing the Army Corp with important historical data and the needs of the community.
“The Army Corp will model and then hopefully at the end of the day they’ll come up and say hey we’ve identified this as your optimal solution and now the next step is looking for appropriations and funding," Kaye said.
Kaye says local organizations are delivering information and working to aid the engineers in their study. He says it's only the beginning of the process.
“There's no one magic key," said Tony Stamas, president and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance, one of the sponsors of the study. "But kind of finding things that are going to help homeowners, help businesses over the long term."