MI SB0471

Requires county boards to initiate proceedings to determine normal water levels for inland lakes within 45 days of receiving a petition signed by 2/3 of abutting landowners, or allows counties to initiate proceedings on their own motion.

Permits dam owners to draw down inland lake levels below established normal levels without prior department approval if they provide written notice to the department and affected authorities, provided they restore the normal level within 14 days or when flooding threats cease.

Authorizes the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to issue emergency orders requiring dam owners to repair, draw down, breach, or cease dam operations to prevent imminent failure or mitigate flooding that threatens public health, safety, property, or natural resources.

Requires performance bonds for permits to construct new dams or reconstruct failed dams that impound inland lakes with established normal levels to ensure completion, restoration, and safe operation and maintenance of the dam.

Establishes that emergency drawdown orders expire at the time specified in the order, when the department certifies the emergency no longer exists, or within 14 days of drawdown initiation for flood mitigation orders, after which dam owners must resume normal level maintenance operations.