Our Mission

The Flat Rock Dam Coalition is a grassroots community organization and movement dedicated to preserving the historic Flat Rock Dam on the Huron River in Michigan. We unite residents, environmental advocates, and community leaders who recognize the dam’s vital importance to our local ecosystem, property values, recreational opportunities, and cultural heritage. Our mission is to ensure that this nearly century-old landmark continues to serve as the heart of our community for generations to come.

Our Story

In early 2025, when the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority released a 140-page feasibility study that included options for removing the Flat Rock Dam, our community quickly mobilized. What began as concerned conversations among neighbors rapidly evolved into a structured movement with a clear purpose: to protect the dam that has defined our landscape since the 1920s.

Founded by passionate local residents who recognized the need for organized action rather than just conversation, our support group has grown to include several thousand members of the community united by a shared love for the dam and the ecosystem it supports. From Flat Rock and Huron Township, to Rockwood and beyond, our supporters understand that the dam’s fate affects not just those living directly on the impoundment, but everyone who values our region’s natural beauty and recreational resources.

Why This Matters

The Flat Rock Dam, built in the late 1920s by Henry Ford for hydroelectric power generation, has transcended its original purpose to become an irreplaceable environmental and community asset:

• Environmental Haven: The dam creates a unique ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife, including two bald eagle nests in the adjacent woods, numerous fish species, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

• Community Heritage: For nearly a century, the dam has shaped our community’s identity and provided a gathering place for generations of families.

• Property Values: Homes and businesses around the impoundment were built and purchased specifically for their proximity to this beautiful waterway.

• Recreational Hub: The dam and its impoundment offer prime opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife observation that would be drastically altered by removal.

Our Position

We advocate for the preservation and proper maintenance of the Flat Rock Dam rather than its removal. While we respect the need for environmental study and fish passage improvements, we believe these goals can be achieved without sacrificing the dam and the ecosystem it has fostered for almost 100 years.

We support:

• Continued investment in dam maintenance and structural improvements
• Enhanced fish passage solutions that preserve the dam’s integrity
• Transparent decision-making processes with meaningful community input
• Redirection of study funds toward preservation rather than removal options

Join Our Movement

Our community voice grows stronger every day:

• With nearly 2,000 members in the Save The Flat Rock Dam Facebook Group sharing information and coordinating actions
• Hundreds of signatures on the online and paper Community Petition to save the dam
• “Save Flat Rock Dam” yard signs displayed throughout the community
• Growing support from local and state officials who understand the dam’s importance

Although the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority has emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding the dam’s future, they have shown favor to gaining land reclaimed by removing the dam. That’s why your voice matters now more than ever. By joining our movement, you help ensure that community values and environmental stewardship remain at the forefront of any decisions about this beloved landmark.

Leadership and Partners

Our grassroots effort is led by community volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to this cause. We work collaboratively with:

• Local residents and property owners
• Elected officials from Flat Rock, Huron Township, Rockwood, Wayne County, and surrounding communities
• State representatives who have voiced opposition to dam removal
• Environmental experts who understand the complex ecosystem of the Huron River

Get Involved

Join the Community Facebook group: Save the Flat Rock Dam

Email: [email protected]

Sign the online petition: Save the Flat Rock Dam online Petition

Attend the next Flat Rock Dam Feasibility Study Public Open House: To Be Announced

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“I’ve lived my whole life on the backwater west of the dam. There’s an amazing diversity of healthy flora and fauna that call it home… Once the dam is removed, this portion of the waterway will dry up and the habitat will be gone.” — Local Resident