Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner, Evan Pratt, has been named Chair of the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force. This 19-person team, assembled by The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), will provide recommendations on policy and budget, along with legislative and enforcement reforms to prevent future dam failures across the state.
A 1987 MIT graduate, Pratt brings over 30 years of experience in civil engineering, public works operations, and water quality expertise to the team. Pratt states "I am honored to just be included in a group with the breadth and depth of credentials of this dream team of technical experts and dam professionals."
Douglas Jester, partner from 5 Lakes Energy, has been elected as Vice Chair while John Broschak, VP Generation Operations and Compression, Consumers Energy, has been elected as Secretary.
EGLE Director, Liesl Clark, states “the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force members have broad expertise and knowledge in all areas related to dam safety. The historic rain event which led to the dam failure and catastrophic 500-year flooding event in Mid-Michigan illuminated the consequences of inadequate investing in infrastructure. It also points to potential improvements that should be made in policies, procedures, funding and regulations. The Task Force will analyze those areas and others and we are eager to see their recommendations.”
For more information, visit Michigan’s Dam Safety Task Force website at https://www.michigan.gov/egle/0,9429,7-135-3306_88771_102319---,00.html.
Pratt is currently serving his second four-year term as Washtenaw County’s Water Resources Commissioner and is up for re-election this November.
The mission of the Office of the Water Resources Commissioner is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of Washtenaw County citizens and the protection of surface water and the environment and to promote the long term environmental and economic sustainability of Washtenaw County by providing storm water management, flood control, development review and water quality programs. Visit www.washtenaw.org/drains.