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. 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. Residents near the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex should be prepared to evacuate at any time as rising water levels threaten the structure. Residents living in the area beneath the Croton Dam have been urged to evacuate immediately as water levels continue to rise.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sent warning letters for years to a shifting cast of owners while granting multiple extensions. Issues cited by FERC included missing inspection records and malfunctioning equipment crucial to passing water in 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. That prompted more orders for repairs and more extensions from FERC. State officials said they were aware of the issues but had no role in enforcement.
Officials issued the first warnings of rising waters on April 7, as the water level sat 21.5 inches below the top of the Cheboygan Dam. The Cheboygan River reached 13.75 inches at the dam by Monday morning. 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 that water has risen to within 12 inches of the top of the dam, with levels increasing by at least 3 inches per day. This stage requires residents to begin packing essentials and finalizing evacuation plans. Officials urged residents to sandbag their homes and secure outdoor items, move valuables to higher levels, and prepare to evacuate. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for the area Friday as officials monitored the rising water. By Sunday afternoon, Department of Natural Resources officials said levels were within 15 inches of the top of the dam. The protocol moves to the 'SET' stage when water reaches 6 inches from the top of the dam or is predicted to overflow within 48 hours, at which point residents should be ready to leave immediately. A mandatory 'GO' order is issued if the water reaches within 1 inch of the top, signaling a high probability that the dam will fail or be overtopped. Law enforcement urged people in the area to pack go-bags with medications and important documents. On Sunday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources activated five pumps to divert water around the dam. Crews installed more pumps to help move water around the complex and prepare for further rain and snowmelt. Crews are working with FERC as they decide on options to re-open a hydroelectric generation station to move more water.
Taxpayers are helping bankroll an effort to bring the hydro plant back online before the dam fails and sends a wall of water toward downtown Cheboygan. The facility housing the hydro plant, once a Charmin toilet paper mill, changed hands repeatedly over decades as it fell into disrepair. 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. Estimates from a few years ago indicated the hydro plant needed at least $1 million in repairs. The dam is not currently producing power. The facility is privately owned by Hom Paper and remains part of a lock system managed by the Department of Natural Resources to allow boat traffic on the river.
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' in Michigan, was reduced to a crater after rain-induced erosion forced a sudden collapse. Highway M-119 between Island View and Division Road was abruptly closed last week after part of the roadway collapsed presumably due to flooding. The collapsed roadway had been a popular scenic drive along a 20-mile stretch of road along Lake Michigan. Sheriffs advised anyone driving along the route to seek an alternative to avoid the road damage. The Michigan Department of Transportation's traffic map shows the roadway is closed in both directions.
Showers and snowmelt were seen on Thursday morning through Friday, with around a quarter to a half inch of rainfall predicted as storms developed. Parts of Emmet County saw around an inch of rain as of Sunday. The heaviest rain was expected to hit the M-72 corridor and southern Lower Michigan, with potential for rain and snowfall as temperatures dropped. Snowmelt from a March winter storm significantly contributed to flooding conditions as rain fell over the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the northern half of Lower Michigan. The National Weather Service placed the area under a flood watch until 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, with more rain expected to hit the region. The forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms Monday night, with a 30 percent to 60 percent chance of showers continuing into Tuesday. Rain is expected to last through Thursday, which could put more pressure on the dam.
Built in 1922, the Cheboygan Dam is classified as a high-hazard structure, meaning a failure could lead to significant destruction and loss of life. It was rated in 'fair' condition during a September 2022 inspection. In addition to the pumps installed Sunday, crews placed 1,500 sandbags along the lock Thursday and added more Saturday to serve as a buffer against the rising water. Officials warned that roadblocks may be set up to handle traffic if a full evacuation becomes necessary.
This is a rapidly developing situation. The exact current water level at the Cheboygan Dam and how close it is to the 'SET' or 'GO' stages remains unclear, as does the number of residents evacuated so far in Cheboygan County and other affected areas. What specific actions, if any, FERC took to enforce repairs before the current crisis is not publicly detailed. The current total taxpayer cost for the emergency repairs at the Cheboygan Dam has not been disclosed, and there is no timeline for reopening Highway M-119 after the collapse.