Dearborn Puts $25M Into Flood Prevention as Big Infrastructure Projects Begin

Dearborn officials kicked off five major flood control projects worth $25 million. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud made the announcement at city hall on September 25.

"We're only getting started," Hammoud said according to The Detroit Free Press. "We're embarking on five major projects in areas most heavily impacted by flooding."

The current system handles 3.5 inches of daily rainfall. New work adds two pumps to shield 12,600 east-side homes, four gates to stop water backup, and stronger manhole covers for better drainage control.

The "Project One / Notre Dame" effort will boost drain power across 800 acres in the southwest area. This work needs help from Ford Motor Company, Greenfield Village and Wayne County teams.

Workers cleared 50 blockages in the Rouge River. This cut water height by one foot and sped up flow by 70 percent in storms, Click on Detroit reports.

In 2021, Outer Drive saw 7.5 inches of rain swamp thousands of homes. Back in 2014, water struck 40 percent of houses and blocked three-quarters of streets.

Council President Michael Sareini spoke about past water issues. "I actually brought it up in a council meeting publicly and said that, 'Look, there's something not right. We need to do a third party, independent inspection of these sewers,'" Sareini told The Detroit Free Press.

The total bill for all planned fixes could reach $400 million. The city seeks Army Corps of Engineers backing to tap federal aid.

Smart flood tracking puts Dearborn at the front of Michigan tech use. Next steps turn empty land into water-holding spots and add special pavement that soaks up rain.

"Trees are actually one of our greatest tools, which is why we've invested more city dollars in trees than ever before, historically," Hammoud said per Click on Detroit.

The city website shows flood plans. Staff keep working on designs while seeking more federal cash.