Local, state, and federal officials were aware of the dangers posed by the Cheboygan Lock and Dam for years before floodwaters pushed it to the brink of collapse, according to records. Officials failed to compel private owners to repair the nonfunctional hydro plant connected to the publicly-owned dam, which is critical for passing floodwaters downstream, multiple reports indicate. The dam, built in 1922, is classified as a high-hazard structure, meaning a failure could lead to significant destruction and loss of life, per the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's National Dam Inventory.
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron. Black Lake, Black River, Cheboygan River, Burt Lake, Mullett Lake, the Sturgeon River, and nearly every waterway in Cheboygan County have overflowed beyond their banks, swallowing docks, roads, yards, and homes, the Cheboygan County sheriff's office reported. Homes along Black Lake's west side were evacuated over the weekend. A large chunk of ice snapped the safety cable at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex on April 9, forcing the DNR to close access points upstream and downstream of the dam. Two marine vessels are breaking up ice chunks on the Cheboygan River to prevent them from blocking the dam gates, according to Patrick Ertel, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team.
All of the dam gates on the DNR-managed portion of the dam are fully open to handle this flow. The pumps add to the capacity.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sent warning letters for years to a shifting cast of owners while granting multiple extensions, records show. FERC cited issues including missing inspection records and malfunctioning equipment crucial to passing water in the event of a flood. As far back as 2019, regulators warned about cracked concrete and damaged retaining walls and gates that could help the dam manage flooding. In 2021, FERC told the plant's then owners that multiple items were overdue and completion dates were rapidly approaching. The plant was cited 16 times in 10 months for safety violations by OSHA before a fire closed it altogether in September 2023. State officials said they were aware of the issues but had no role in enforcement.
Taxpayers are helping bankroll a desperate effort to bring the hydro plant back online before the dam fails and sends a wall of water toward downtown Cheboygan, multiple reports indicate. The property is now owned by Hom Paper XI, LLC, a business controlled by former NFL linebacker Thomas Homco. A public tally of taxpayer costs associated with the round-the-clock repair wasn't available on Thursday, but estimates from a few years ago indicated the plant needed at least $1 million in repairs. Last week, crews added pumps, restored power to an old hydroelectric station to increase water flow through the dam, and used cranes to remove gates that hold back water.
We are putting through as much water as we can.
On Sunday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources activated five pumps to divert water around the dam, according to Fox 17. All of the dam gates on the DNR-managed portion of the dam are fully open to handle the flow, said Richard Hill, Gaylord District Supervisor for the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division. Crews are working with FERC to decide on options to re-open a hydroelectric generation station to move more water, according to Hill. By Sunday afternoon, DNR officials said levels were within 15 inches of the top of the dam, leading crews to install more pumps.
Large chunks of ice rammed into homes along Michigan's Black Lake, busting through windows and doors, multiple reports indicate. The ice on Black Lake was pushed ashore by the wind, with high water levels giving it more room to travel, according to Patrick Bak, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord, Michigan. Ice chunks were also moving through nearby Mullett Lake, which feeds into the Cheboygan River. The forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms Monday night, with a 30% to 60% chance of showers continuing into Tuesday and rain expected through Thursday.
Our objectives for this incident are to work closely with FERC and the operators and owners of the hydro building to look at options. Some water is going through the bypass valves on that part of the dam.
Residents near the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex should be prepared to evacuate at any time as rising water levels threaten the structure, authorities in northern Michigan warned. The Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office issued a warning noting that the dam's water levels had reached the 'READY' mark of the state's emergency safety protocol. Under the 'READY, SET, GO' system, the 'READY' status indicates water has risen to within 12 inches of the top of the dam, with levels increasing by at least 3 inches per day, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The protocol moves to 'SET' when water reaches 6 inches from the top or is predicted to overflow within 48 hours, and 'GO' if within 1 inch, signaling high probability of failure or overtopping. Law enforcement urged people to pack go-bags, secure outdoor items, move valuables to higher floors, and stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas.
Parts of the U.S. state of Michigan have been hit by severe floods. In Cheboygan County, hundreds of people in low-lying residential areas have had to evacuate, and a state of emergency has been declared. A stretch of Highway M-119, the 'tunnel of trees', was abruptly closed last week after part of the roadway collapsed presumably due to flooding, according to the Emmet County Sheriff's Office. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the northern half of Lower Michigan.