Proven on a Michigan lake dam
Lake Dam Repair & Rebuild
Leaking or failing dam? We engineer, permit and rebuild it with sheet-pile cores, adjustable spillways and properly sized culverts, and we keep your lake.
- Engineered designs & permit drawings
- Siphons lower the lake safely
- Sheet-pile cores & adjustable spillways
- Grant-funded projects welcome
Get a Free Dam Repair & Rebuild Estimate
No obligation. A real expert follows up.
- ✔ Honest advice, with cheaper options if there are any
- ✔ Clear written price
- ✔ Permits handled for you
Since 2013
serving West Michigan from Fruitport
200,000
cubic yards dredged on one lake job
40+ yrs
team experience on Great Lakes waters
100%
of permits handled for you
Signs Your Dam Needs Attention
Many private lake dams in Michigan were built decades ago. A failing dam can drain your lake and flood homes, roads and bridges downstream. The sooner it's addressed, the more options you have.
Warning signs:
- ✓Seepage or leaks through or under the dam
- ✓Water overtopping the dam in storms
- ✓Undersized, rusted or failing culverts
- ✓Erosion on the embankment or spillway
- ✓An engineer's inspection flagged a risk
How it works
Our Dam Repair & Rebuild Process
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1
Engineering
Our engineers design the repair and prepare permit drawings.
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2
Permit
We submit to EGLE. High-risk dams are often reviewed faster.
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3
Lower the lake
Fused HDPE siphons with fish screens and control valves lower the water safely.
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4
Build the core
Heavy steel sheet piling driven down the center of the dam.
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5
Spillway & culverts
A new adjustable sheet-pile spillway, and culverts sized for major storms.
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6
Restore
Recontour the shoreline while the water is down, refill the lake, and seed native grasses.
By the Numbers
120 yrs
projected life of the heavy sheet-pile core we installed
300 ft
of sheet-pile core at Mirror Lake
~5 ft
lake lowered by siphons for the work
2 × 12″
HDPE siphons, 150 ft long each
Funding help
Michigan Dam Risk Reduction Grants
EGLE's grant program is open to private, local and state dam owners. It covers planning, design, repair and removal. In its latest round it awarded $14.9M to 19 dams, from 75 pre-applications requesting $97.3M. Strong designs and budgets help, and we can supply both.
Real project · Mirror Lake
A Failing Dam, Rebuilt to Last
A 1940s earthen dam was leaking and close to failure, threatening a highway bridge downstream. We lowered the lake with siphons, drove a 300 ft heavy sheet-pile core, built an adjustable spillway and right-sized the culverts.
Paying for a dam or lake project?
Get the free Lake & Dam Funding Playbook: lake boards, special assessments and dam grant basics.
Dam Repair & Rebuild FAQ
Can you repair a dam without losing the lake?
Yes. We lower the lake temporarily with siphons, rebuild the dam, then let the lake refill to its design level.
Do I need a separate emergency spillway?
Not always. At Mirror Lake, setting the sheet-pile top at the maximum overflow elevation let it qualify as the emergency spillway, which saved the owner a separate structure.
What permits does dam work need?
Dam repair in Michigan needs EGLE approval, plus related soil erosion and local permits. Our engineers prepare the design and permit drawings.
Are there grants for dam repair?
Yes. EGLE's Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program funds planning, design, repair and removal for eligible dams, including privately owned ones.
Can you dredge the lake at the same time?
Often, yes. Lowering the water is a good chance to recontour shorelines or remove sediment. We did both at Mirror Lake.
Dam Repair & Rebuild Near You
Ready to Talk About Your Dam Repair & Rebuild Project?
Free estimate. Honest advice. Permits handled.