Crews appeared to be getting more water moving out from behind the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex Saturday after rising water levels prompted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency a day earlier.
Despite the progress, officials remain worried that forecasted rain and warmer weather in the next few days threaten to reverse the gains and jeopardize the dam. They have warned residents to be prepared to evacuate if the water level rises to a certain level.
“The DNR is actively engaged with our partners to prevent the failure of the dam to the fullest extent possible,” said Mike Janisse, leader of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Incident Management Team, in a Saturday statement.
Crews added more sandbags in strategic locations around the dam, while large pumps were used to move water around the structure, according to a DNR press release.
The DNR said Thursday it spent the day placing 1,500 sandbags along the lock. The sandbagging is expected to be a buffer for rising water and help channel the water, the department said.
Crews added on Friday a couple of pumps to move water from behind the dam to the spillway in front, where it can flow out toward Lake Huron, officials said. More pumps have been ordered, said Laurie Abel, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
In addition, crews removed an old wooden debris screen in front of the dam’s Gate No. 6 after determining the removal wouldn’t damage the dam, Abel said. This is expected to help more water flow out and lower the water level behind the dam, she said.
The U.S. Geological Survey also installed more water level monitoring equipment, the DNR said.
When the governor declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, Whitmer said the river was 18 inches below the top of the Cheboygan Dam. It had increased 3 inches overnight, according to the DNR. But on Saturday, the river was 20 inches below the top of the dam, Abel said.
“It’s still a wait-and-see situation on the weather that is coming,” Abel added.
Rain is expected in Cheboygan area, while officials urge readiness for a possible evacuation
Cheboygan is forecast to have a chance for rain showers Saturday night, with a 100% chance of showers on Sunday, a 20%-60% chance of showers on Monday and an 80% chance of showers on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
More public safety measures will be taken if it reaches 12 inches below the top of the dam in an approach that DNR officials called “ready, set, go”:
“Our No. 1 priority in all the coordinated efforts being undertaken is safety,” said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer. “Preparedness is key. The more informed and prepared people are for potential danger, the safer they will be if it ultimately occurs.”
Why water levels are rising and endangering the Cheboygan Dam
The rising water levels at the lock and dam on the Cheboygan River are being caused by recent rainfall and snowmelt following a record snowfall in March. Ice also has been thawing in the lakes above the dam, Abel said.
Officials have warned that the high waters present dangers, including the potential to wash away shorelines and banks and to sweep people and objects away if they get caught in the river’s fast-moving currents.
The emergency declaration authorizes the state to use all available resources to assist in the local response and recovery operations.
“Water levels are below the crest of the dam, but conditions could change quickly with more rain coming,” Whitmer said in a Friday statement. “This emergency declaration will help local, state, and federal officials protect Michiganders and property.”
Residents should sign up for local alerts, Whitmer and other officials said.
State and federal leaders are seeking ways to increase the outflow, including potentially refiring a previously damaged hydroelectric generator.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Cheboygan dam water level dips, but rain threat looms over emergency site
Reporting by Max Reinhart and Richard Burr, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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