Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program

The Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program (DRRGP), administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), provides grant funding to dam owners for repair, alteration, or removal activities necessary to address risks associated with publicly or privately owned dams. The program's core goals are to reduce or eliminate dam-related risks, ensure regulated dams comply with Part 315 (Dam Safety) and Part 307 (Inland Lake Levels) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (1994 PA 451), foster strong partnerships with private dam owners and operators, and protect human health and environmental resources threatened by aging dam infrastructure.

Eligible applicants include public and private entities that own or operate dams in Michigan. Regulated dams under Part 315 (over six feet in height and impounding five acres or more) as well as court-established lake-level dams under Part 307 fall within the scope of state oversight.

Eligible projects fall into three primary project types: dam removal projects, dam rehabilitation or repair projects addressing identified deficiencies, and engineering study or design projects. Study and design grants allow recipients to establish project scopes and leverage state funds toward federal or other grant opportunities.

The application process is conducted through periodic grant cycles that begin with a Request for Pre-Application process in accordance with the DRRGP program handbook, followed by proposal review and recipient selection by EGLE staff.