Blast from the Past: The near-breach of the Pucker Street Dam

 The Pucker Street Dam was not designed for flood control! In fact, changing and impeding natural flows can lead to trouble down the road.    For example:

 

Dam breaks as flooding hits southern Michigan

Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 6:42 AM     Updated: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 6:45 AM

By The Associated Press

 

 

NILES TOWNSHIP — Days of heavy rain across southern and western Michigan caused a dam to fail in Berrien County and led to massive sewage overflows and flooded streets, authorities say.
An eight-foot section of an earthen dam gave way Monday night on the Dowagiac River, the Niles Township fire department said Tuesday. It said the Niles Dam break forced the evacuation of about a dozen homes.
The dam is about 165 miles west-southwest of Detroit.
A number of roads washed out or developed sinkholes in Berrien and Cass counties as well.