We need $14.3 million to $18.6 million for project completion. This includes the projected lifetime upkeep and maintenance.
What we want you to know...
The White Cloud millpond completion in 1872 dates back to the lumber industry heyday. The White River was diverted from its original riverbed to the current dam location, and the energy produced used for mill work. This diversion accompanied the contemporaneous construction of the historic wooden train trestle paralleling M37 south of White Cloud and the concrete humpback bridge (since replaced) on E Baseline. Consumers Energy eventually assumed operation of the dam as a hydroelectric plant, and later generously deeded the dam to the City of White Cloud in 1951. The previous year (1950), Charles S. Smith (formerly Kazymieras Doveika, a Lithuanian immigrant), deeded the swimming beach to the City of White Cloud in order to assure free recreational access to the waters of the millpond.
​The City of White Cloud is the Seat of Newaygo County, with approximately 1,300 residents according to 2023 data. Median household income is in the range of $55,000 per year, with nearly 20% of the population below the poverty line. These few, but humble people have a number of recreational resources without cost, ranging from parks to trails to lakes. However, that is, not many recreational resources within walking distance of the City center. The millpond (Lake White Cloud) has been both the symbolic and real center of summer recreation free and open to all regardless of class or status. It is part of the City morale and cultural heritage.
In a city of 1300, you won't see many at any given time enjoying the millpond, due to the population size and vary schedules of residents. This doesn't diminish the importance to the residents of White Cloud, but it does raise many questions from near and far as to the value to the people of the State of Michigan. When the question was posed to Consumers Energy back in 1951, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) indicated that the White River, and people of Michigan, would be better off without the hydroelectric dam or its remnants on the White River in White Cloud and Everett township. Consumers Energy disagreed and issued a quit claim deed to the City of White Cloud in favor of the cultural value of which the dam was a symbol: the pure and unadulterated public sharing of a beautiful recreational resource.
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Lake White Cloud has been the site of family reunions, picnics, senior photographs, family photographs, swimming lessons, Summer Magic, boating, synchronized swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, playground play, bird watching, ice fishing, ice skating, pow wows, carnivals and much more.
The DNR is "committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations," according to their Michigan website. This mission should include the significance of the White Cloud millpond both to the warm water fisheries of Michigan and the cultural heritage of the region. Additionally, the White Cloud dam design is a "bottom spill" operation, drawing the water from the coldest depths of the pond, to keep river temperatures cool downstream. This naturally supports DNR efforts at artificially stocking non-native cold-water river fish species in the White River such as the steelhead, brown trout, or even the grayling once introduction efforts are under way.
This central cultural feature of the City of White Cloud is now at risk due to changing legal and engineering standards. The City has recently completed an in depth engineering study into the condition of the dam, and the feasibility of rehabilitating the dam. The dam has been confirmed as structurally stable, with concrete cores taken from the primary spillway (poured in 1910) also showing superior compressive strength. This being the case, GEI (the engineering firm who completed the study) has indicated that rehabilitation of the dam is feasible. The cost estimate for the rehabilitation work, which includes rework of the earthen dam, rework of the primary and emergency spillways, and new inclusion of a $2 million fish ladder, is right around $10.8 million. Adding in the cost of upkeep, operations and maintenance for the next 50 years, brings the potential price tag up to around $18.6 million. This final number includes a 30% contingency of about $4.3 million.
Removal of the dam with active restoration of the river as an option comes in at about $12.7 million. The total 50-year life cost of the dam to the City of White Cloud, with rehabilitation, minus the contingency comes in at about $14.3 million, or very close to the cost of removal.
The benefit to the residents of dam removal is nebulous, and the cost required to upkeep, operate and maintain a vast riverfront park space fitted with utilities, and perhaps a splashpad, has not been studied. The benefit to the residents of White Cloud and the State of Michigan of dam rehabilitation is already proven and studied further. However, there is really no money in a community with an average household income of $55,000.00 to pursue either option. Nor does the City of White Cloud have the money. The City has worked with the State and professional advice at every turn to effect any repair or preventative maintenance it is advised to do. The difference now is that due diligence and changing standards have revealed newer and larger hoops to jump through.
This has left the riverfront surrounding the millpond a mess of water-logged sand and algae, and the river below the primary spillway a mess of silt with the emergency draw down orders from EGLE.
Now for the big ask: The people of the City of White Cloud look to the larger community out there to help keep a cultural center alive, both for themselves and all future residents and visitors. We need to collect $14.3 to $18.6 million to ensure the continuation of this valuable cultural and historical feature of West Michigan. Please help us through your generosity.
