Engineer Expresses Regret for Michigan Dam Removal Flooding

A Michigan engineer working on a dam removal project in the northwestern Lower Peninsula is apologizing for an accidental flooding that damaged at least 53 properties along the Boardman River.

Authorities say an investigation into flooding along the river upstream from Traverse City is expected to take months.

The Oct. 6 flood happened during what was supposed to be a slow draining of the Brown Bridge Dam in Grand Traverse County’s East Bay Township.

Sandra Sroonian is a senior engineer with AMEC, an engineering company working on a project to remove the dam and restore the Boardman River’s natural flow.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle quotes her as saying regrets the accident and wants to “make things right” for affected homeowners.