Great Lakes High Water Solutions
Experts on Michigan’s Water Resources
For over 75 years, Spicer Group’s team of engineers, surveyors, architects, and community planners have provided stronger, safer, and smarter solutions to high water, flooding, and erosion issues throughout Michigan. We specialize in understanding how the Great Lakes, inland lakes, creeks, drains, streams, rivers, and stormwater runoff affect the world we live in. We are regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and forward-thinking water resource engineering firms in Michigan, and we have the expertise, technology, and staff to provide qualified solutions for municipalities, industries, and private properties affected by the current high water levels of the Great Lakes.
Full-Service Engineering Capacity
Water Level Impact Modeling
We have the knowledge and technology to provide impact modeling which can help you plan and prioritize how to prepare your assets to minimize the impacts of high water, flooding, and erosion. Impact modeling allows you to visualize different water level scenarios and the potential impacts on your assets allowing you to efficiently plan and budget based on a wide range of variables including elevation, risk, and cost.
Funding Expertise
We are proud to say that we have helped clients acquire nearly $130 million in grant and loan funding over the past decade. Knowing what funding is available and how to acquire it is another strength we have and truly a significant benefit to working with Spicer Group. We are closely watching and working with the State of Michigan to identify any potential new sources of funding for solutions to damages and problems resulting from the high water conditions.
Permitting
Ensuring the proper permitting process is followed is key to getting a project going quickly and correctly. A United States Army Corps of Engineers permit, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy permit, and local permits, including Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control permits are required for projects that are completed within the Great Lakes and connecting waters. We complete these on a regular basis. The permitting agencies are familiar with our work and trust our abilities, which often helps expedite the permitting process for our clients.
Vulnerability Analysis/Assessments
The State of Michigan is asking NPDES permittees to prepare a vulnerability analysis. The purpose of the analysis is to identify the existing and anticipated threats of current and expected high water levels to determine how vulnerable key infrastructure is to high water levels. Though the state is requesting this analysis/assessment for NPDES permittees it should be considered for all types of infrastructure and key assets. We can assist in determining what key assets may be vulnerable to current or anticipated high water levels and develop short term and/or long term permanent solutions to protect these assets.
Ready to Assist with High Waters on the Great Lakes
Water levels in the Great Lakes are at historical highs. Knowing how high they will go or when they will recede is subject to many variables we have no control over. The high water is currently impacting communities and businesses all along Michigan’s coastline and Spicer Group has the staff and technology to assist in minimizing disruption and damage to key infrastructure assets.
Source of water level information: US Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District