Among rows of colorful kayaks, Khrystal Crosno recently helped an Ann Arbor family start their peaceful journey down the AuTrain River. Along the way, the Earls expected to see turtles, herons, river otters, and maybe even a black bear. Crosno was confident they would enjoy the trip but worried about a looming threat—the crumbling AuTrain dam, located just six miles upstream.
The dam, nearly a century old, is showing serious signs of wear. Water leaks through cracks, concrete is falling away, and safety upgrades that have been required for over 15 years still haven’t happened. Repairs are estimated to cost up to $4 million, and the dam keeps the river’s flow steady, which is vital for local businesses like Crosno’s AuTrain River Adventures.
If heavy rain or snow causes the dam to fail, the consequences could be severe. Roads like M-94, just a short distance away, could wash out. Water rushing downstream could damage popular spots like AuTrain Falls, flood cottages and local businesses around AuTrain Lake, and disrupt livelihoods in the area. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made the dam’s sale in 2010 conditional on safety upgrades, but those fixes were delayed repeatedly by the owners. Local officials say FERC never forced the repairs.
This situation feels familiar. In 2020, two dams in mid-Michigan collapsed after years of ignored safety demands, causing $200 million in damage and creating a repair bill nearing $400 million. Since then, Michigan has improved its dam safety unit and communicates more with FERC, but major reforms like regular inspections and financial safeguards have not taken hold.
Adding to the concerns is the trend of utilities wanting to sell dams to private companies. Consumers Energy recently proposed selling 13 dams, all meeting safety rules, sparking fears the new private owners might not maintain them well. Currently, public utilities are regulated on how they charge for and maintain dams, but private owners often face fewer rules and less oversight.
The AuTrain dam falls under Renewable World Energies, a company with financial problems. The dam brings in little revenue—just $173,000 from electricity sales in 2024—and the repair cost is beyond what the company can handle. Foreclosure on land around the dam has already forced the closure of a campground, creating more local disruption. With the company facing bankruptcy and seeking to shed the dam, experts worry about its future.
Some say the dam should be publicly owned, but local townships don’t have the budget to take on such a responsibility, and state funds are limited with more repair requests than money available. Removing the dam is also not a popular option since it helps control water levels during winter and spring.
People living near the dam have grown up with the river and the lake, rarely thinking of the dams until now. The time for planning and sharing costs has passed, and some wonder what will happen if the dam fails.
For now, Crosno is preparing to close up shop and head back to Arizona after years of running her water adventure business. She hopes the dam remains and the river flows smoothly, but as the repairs stall and questions mount, the uncertainty weighs on those who call this place home.
“We’re all just a little nervous,” Crosno admits. “Like, what happens?”