Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program

Purpose: The Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program provides funding to reduce or eliminate risk associated with Michigan dams, ensure compliance with Part 315 and Part 307 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, and protect public safety and environmental health. Additional eligibility conditions: Applicants must own or operate the dam; federally regulated hydropower dams are not eligible; projects must demonstrate measurable risk reduction and either maintain compliance with or bring facilities into compliance with state dam safety requirements. Project eligibility: Eligible activities include planning, feasibility studies, and design; repair, alteration, or removal of dams; and post project monitoring and corrective actions. Ineligible activities include minor maintenance that does not significantly reduce risk, projects at federally regulated hydropower dams, and lake dredging. Application process: The 2024-2025 cycle used a two step process in EGLE’s EGX system. Pre applications opened 11/04/2024 and were due 12/06/2024. Selected applicants were invited on 12/18/2024 to submit full applications, which were due 01/31/2025. Applications were prioritized using risk based ranking; awards were announced 05/08/2025. Grants are reimbursement based with quarterly reporting, a minimum 10 percent match, and a typical project duration of up to 2 years from grant agreement execution.