A special task force set up to study Michigan’s dam safety rules and regulations met virtually for the first time Tuesday.
Liesl Clark is the head of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. And she's a member of the 19-person task force.
She says the task force was formed after two dam failures in May helped create devastating floods in Midland and Gladwin counties.
“Which really illuminated in many ways the consequences of inadequately investing in our state’s infrastructure,” says Clark.
May's floods forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people. The dams' ownerhas filed for bankruptcy protection.
This first meeting was spent acquainting task force members with the state’s dam safety program. The task force’s next meeting is scheduled for October 1.
The panel’s recommendations for improving dam safety are due early next year.
There are other investigations into what caused May’s dam failures.
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