Midland, Michigan – The commander and staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District were in Midland on Monday, November 4, for an agreement signing ceremony with the three local sponsors: the County of Midland, City of Midland and Midland Business Alliance (MBA). The formal agreement is an initial step to begin the area’s second Corps of Engineers study, called a General Investigation (GI) study. This three-year study will look at options to reduce the severity of flooding in the Midland area and determine the cost-benefit and feasibility of potential projects.

“The GI study is the next big step in our progression toward the larger-scale projects we envision,” said Tony Stamas, MBA president and CEO. “The MBA Advisory Committee on Infrastructure has been working in two lanes since it was formed in 2021. One lane is shorter-term and often smaller flood reduction, recovery, and resiliency projects. The other lane holds the larger, longer-term projects, which might include significant wetlands and natural floodwater detention areas, for example. These larger infrastructure projects are where the Corps of Engineers and their expertise come in.”

In addition to Stamas, the three other leaders signing at the ceremony included Mark Bone, chair of the Midland County Board of Commissioners; Maureen Donker, mayor and councilman on the Midland City Council; and Lt. Col. Wallace W. Bandeff, commander of the Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

“The Corps of Engineers is excited to partner with the City of Midland, Midland County and the Midland Business Alliance to collaborate on this study to increase public awareness and preparedness for flood risk through the region,” said Lt. Col. Bandeff. “We look forward to working with our partners in the coming weeks and identifying approaches to flood prevention for the Tittabawassee Watershed.”

“Working with the Corps of Engineers on the first study was a positive experience for the County of Midland,” said Bone. “The County now has new hydrology and hydraulic data and models of the Tittabawassee River Watershed. This will help with emergency management, planning and the safety of our citizens. The data and software models from the first study are also critical for the GI study.”

“In Midland, we feel a positive momentum,” said Donker. “Identifying solutions to the legacy flooding challenges that our city faces is a crucial need for our community, and this work with the Corps of Engineers will be a big part of that. With our work on Concept 5 projects, critical funding assistance from the state for the flood reduction projects we just approved in October, and now this large-scale study with the Corps of Engineers – I believe we have the opportunity to make real, significant progress.”

All of the local partners thanked the state and federal legislators who represent the Midland area and have helped with funding support for flood reduction efforts and with federal authorization and appropriation of these studies.

“On such a busy day, right before Election Day, our lawmakers and staff made time to attend the signing ceremony. We appreciate their continuing support and commitment. They have moved mountains already for us,” said Stamas.

State Representative Bill G. Schuette addressed the crowd during the ceremony, and staffers from the offices of U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Congressman John Moolenaar, Congressman Dan Kildee, and State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet were all in attendance.

After the ceremony, Lt. Col. Bandeff was taken on a tour of the Midland area to view areas that are typically affected by flooding. Later in November, the local partners and the Corps of Engineers will have a three-day planning session, called a charrette. That detailed working session will build the framework for the GI study.

Representatives of the four organizations working on a General Investigation study gather to sign the agreement on Monday, November 4, in Midland: (from the left) Tony Stamas, president and CEO, Midland Business Alliance; Mark Bone, chair, Midland County Board of Commissioners; Maureen Donker, mayor, City of Midland; and Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District, speaks to a group made up of representatives from the City of Midland, County of Midland, Midland Business Alliance, legislators and staff, and other community stakeholders on Monday, November 4.

Gathered after the signing of the agreement for the General Investigation study with the Corps of Engineers are (left to right) Mark Bone, chair, Midland County Board of Commissioners; J.W. Fisher and Lee Ann Keller, co-chairs of the Midland Business Alliance (MBA) Advisory Committee on Infrastructure; Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District; Maureen Donker, mayor, City of Midland; Brad Kaye, Midland city manager; and Tony Stamas, president and CEO, MBA.