TECUMSEH DAM
Spicer Group has supported the Lenawee County Drain Commissioner with ongoing improvements to the Tecumseh Dam following its 2020 hydraulic study of the dam at Red Mill Pond, which recommended improvements for dam safety, function, and compliance. The team’s earlier work included updating the Emergency Action Plan, revising the Special Assessment District, and assisting with emergency repair to the dam’s permanent stop logs. Going off the recommendations in Spicer Group’s 2021 report, Lenawee County sought continued professional engineering services to complete construction improvements that would allow the dam to safely operate per MIOSHA requirements while maintaining the court-ordered summer and winter lake levels. Spicer Group provided both preliminary and final design phases for these upgrades, which are now nearing completion. The construction work spans a significant portion of the River Raisin and Red Mill Pond area, extending across both sides of North Evans Street, and covers roughly 300 to 350 feet north–south and 200 to 250 feet east–west. Key elements include repairs to the existing dam, a new auxiliary spillway system with an engineered concrete abutment wall approximately 88 feet long, seepage and embankment repairs, a new access drive, a kayak portage, and integration of a Waterman 48-inch by 60-inch slide gate. With most construction activities now complete, these improvements collectively strengthen the dam’s stability, enhance safety and operational performance, and support the long-term management of Red Mill Pond’s water levels.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Location
Tecumseh, MI
Spicer Group Project Contact
Rich Graham, PE
248-495-2927
PROJECT PICTURES
