Hardy Pond Could Return to a River if Dam Sale Fails

Consumers Energy says it could take the dam that holds Michigan’s largest reservoir out of service if the sale of its dams isn’t approved.

Consumers Energy’s 13 Dams

Consumers Energy owns 13 hydroelectric dams located along five rivers in Michigan. There are six dams on the Au Sable River, one on the Grand River, one on the Kalamazoo River, two on the Manistee River and three on the Muskegon River.

Consumers Energy wants to sell all 13 dams for $1 each to reduce its long-term costs and avoid major financial burdens. The dams are expensive to maintain but generate relatively little revenue, making hydropower less cost-effective. Selling them would also help the company avoid costly options like completely removing the dams or going through the expensive federal relicensing process.

Hardy Pond Could Return to Its Original River State

Hardy Pond is part of the Muskegon River system and is Michigan’s largest reservoir. The water is about 100 feet deep at the spot shown in this photo. Imagine what it would look like if the water level returned to the river’s original level. Property values for people living around the pond could take a major hit, and the tourism that Hardy Pond brings to Newaygo County could suffer greatly.

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Croton Pond and Dam are just downstream and could face similar consequences. If the water levels dropped, property values around the pond could take a major hit, and Croton could lose much of the tourism that helps support the local community and businesses.

According to MLive, the Michigan Public Service Commission is still deciding whether to approve Consumers Energy’s sale of its 13 dams to Confluence Hydro LLC. If the sale doesn’t go through, Consumers Energy says it will restore the 4,000-acre reservoir to its original river level, turning it back into the Muskegon River.

There’s concern that if the dams are sold to an investment firm that could use them for tax purposes, they may not be properly maintained. People worry that a similar situation could happen again, like in 2020 when the Edenville and Sanford dams failed. Those dams were owned by a company backed by an investment firm, raising concerns about what could happen if proper maintenance and safety aren’t made a priority.

When the Edenville and Sanford dams failed in 2020, Sanford Lake and Wixom Lake were both drained, leaving the areas looking more like rivers again. Since then, Sanford Lake has been restored to a full lake, but Wixom Lake remains drained, with the water mostly confined to its original river and creek channels.

👇BELOW: Michigan Mansion Built in 1916 by Consumers Energy Founder👇

Michigan Mansion Built in 1916 by Consumers Energy Founder

In 1886, two brothers were tasked with providing electric lighting in downtown Jackson, Michigan. William A. and James B. Foote would make their mark in the town, with William's wife later founding Foote Hospital (now Henry Ford Health). In 1916, James had a home built for himself and his family at 735 W Washington Avenue. Here's a look at what that home looks like over 100 years later courtesy of The Brokerage House

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow