Overview
- As water nears the dam’s 'SET' threshold at 6 inches, officials report the Cheboygan River is about 6.6 inches below the crest and warn overtopping remains possible.
- Crews removed all six gates, raised the US-23 bascule bridge for safety, stacked large sandbag 'super sacks,' and are adding more high‑capacity pumps to move water around the structure.
- Teams are working with utility partners to temporarily restart a hydroelectric unit idled since 2023 to push more water through the complex, a step expected to increase discharge by roughly 30%.
- Following Tuesday’s levee breach on the Little Black River Watershed, the county ordered evacuations in specific low‑lying areas unrelated to the dam and opened multiple shelters for residents.
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended statewide emergency coordination and declared an energy emergency as flood watches and warnings cover much of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula with more rain forecast.