State of emergency remains in effect as water climbs at Cheboygan Dam

A state of emergency remains in effect as water levels at the Cheboygan Dam and Lock Complex continue to rise with more rainfall, climbing temperatures and melting snow pouring into the watershed following a harsh northern Michigan winter.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said water levels at the dam were 15 inches from reaching the top. On Friday afternoon it was 18 inches. If it hits 12 inches, that will trigger the first phase of the county’s emergency plan, which is to prepare for an evacuation (see full details below).

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Friday, and activated the State Emergency Response Center, allowing more resources to be deployed to the area to help mitigate flood risk.

Flood mitigation efforts

Five pumps have been set up to divert water from flowing through the dam. The pumps are discharging water from the Cheboygan River into the dam’s spillway to try and lower water levels and prevent water from spilling over the dam. DNR officials said in a statement that they’re working on acquiring more pumps and that all gates at the dam are fully open.

“We are putting through as much water as we can [through the pumps],” said Richard Hill, Gaylord district supervisor for the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division.

Two thousand sandbags have also been placed at the top of the dam to help direct its flow in the event the water levels continue to rise. The DNR has also removed a wooden debris screen that was in front of one of the gates to help increase water flow.

Officials with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are working with the DNR in an effort to reactivate the dam’s adjoining hydroelectric generation station up and running, which would allow increased water flow through the dam. It has not been functional since a 2023 fire. The state doesn’t own this portion of the dam facility.

Laurie Abel, a public information officer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, told WCMU that federal inspectors have been on-site at the hydro facility to make sure they can begin repairs and are currently waiting on parts.

“There's more that needs to be done than just flipping the switch and turning back on the electric,” Abel said. “It's all just about getting more flow through getting more water through that area and out into Lake Huron.”

Emergency planning

Cheboygan County Emergency Manager Jeremy Runstrom told WCMU there are no current evacuation orders in effect.

While plans are in place, Runstrom said it is impossible to know what type of emergency, and its severity, the area could deal with. There are varying levels of flooding, he said, and that will trigger different types of emergency responses.

Runstrom and the DNR said they have identified “specific values at risk” of flooding around the dam and along the river. They said that certain property owners have been notified of the potential flood risk and that in the event of a flooding emergency, first responders will go door-to-door to notify people.

“If we get to evacuation stage, I will send out IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert Warning System) messages, which is the wireless alert system,” Runstrom said. "[This] will target all the areas that will be affected by raising water levels.”

Emergency shelters have been identified, Runstrom said, but will not be made public because they are not open yet. If the shelters are needed, Runstrom said, the American Red Cross is ready to assist people as needed.

“Anywhere along the riverbank is my concern really right now,” Runstrom said “I'm planning for the worst-case scenario and hoping for the best.”

Runstrom and the DNR are encouraging residents to follow the “ready, set, go” safety approach as they wait for the situation to unfold.

• Ready: When water is 12 inches below the top of the dam with levels rising 3 inches a day or more. Plan and/or pack in the event an evacuation becomes necessary.
  
• Set: When water reaches 6 inches below the top of the dam, with water levels rising at a rate of 3 inches per day or levels rising 3 inches per day and predicted to top the dam within 48 hours. Prepare by packing and preparing your family, pets and vehicle for potential departure.
  
• Go: When water levels are 1 inch below the top of the dam with a high probability of topping it, with the potential for failure occurring. Follow evacuation orders; roadblocks may be installed around the perimeters.

The Cheboygan County Emergency Management Office and the DNR are also encouraging people to:

• Sign up for Be-Alert notifications
  
• Follow the local social media pages
  
• Ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on their mobile devices
  
• Call 211 for information about preparedness and potential evacuation.

The state of Michigan has also created a new website for people to receive the latest up-to-date information regarding the dam and lock complex.

Forecast

Heavy rain showers are expected to continue through Sunday evening and into Monday morning, according to Nicole Sprinkles, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord. Accumulation is expected to be between 1-2.5 inches.

“We're seeing some models even throw in some totals of upwards of 3 inches,” Sprinkles said. “As we move into Monday, it does start to look like we might actually have a bit of a lull in the actual shower activity… But then again, Monday night, it just comes brewing back up.”   

Sprinkles added that overnight lows are not expected to drop below freezing for most of northern Michigan this week and will likely lead to more snow melting across the region.

We note the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is a sponsor of WCMU. We report on them as we do with any other organization.