More rain is coming to Michigan’s stressed dams on Saturday, April 18, but the water level Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex is continuing to decrease, according to the National Weather Service forecast and Michigan State Police.
Northern Michigan remains under a flood warning through the weekend and the Upper Peninsula under a flood watch.
Flooding is expected to continue along waterways, including the Manistee River, Au Sable River and Rifle River, according to the NWS.
After this weekend’s rain, the weather is expected to be dry early to mid-week, but rain is expected to return at the end of next week into next weekend.
Here are Saturday, April 18 updates on Michigan floods, dams and weather.
Cheboygan Dam water level continues to drop
Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex water levels are continuing to drop.
As of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, the water level is 7.32 inches below the top of the dam, according to the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. That is 0.24 inches lower than the level at 10 p.m. Friday. The level is 0.84 inches lower than it was Friday at 12:45 p.m.
Homes on Muskegon River flooded
Osceola County Emergency Management continues to monitor Muskegon River flooding Saturday, April 18. According to Director Mark Watkins, boats remain on the water in the area due to flooding of subdivisions and homes.
“Our major operation today — as it’s been every single day and probably will be for another week or so — is having people on the river checking on those homeowners that have not opted to leave their area,” Watkins told The Free Press. “Secondly in that operation, securing loosened propane tanks and clearing debris the best we can.”
Watkins estimated about 100 people are affected by flooding as of April 18. Utilities in flood areas are also out. According to Watkins, Great Lakes Energy and Consumers Energy has shut down several areas to prioritize and not damage the electrical system. The grid is expected to remain deenergized for at least another week.
Watkins emphasized that it is not safe to recreationally be on the water because of the very high flow rate of the river.
—Cassidey Kavathas
Estimated 250-350 impacted by flooding in Muskegon County
Muskegon County declared a local emergency at 1 p.m. Friday, April 17.
About 250-350 people in low-lying areas may be impacted by flooding in Muskegon County, Emergency Manager Renee Gavin said in a news conference at 6 p.m. on Friday.
“Residents should avoid flooded roadways and never drive around barricades. If you choose to remain in your home, understand that emergency services may not be able to reach you until conditions are safe,” Gavin said during the news conference. “If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. If you become trapped, move to the highest safe location possible and follow dispatcher instructions.”
Efforts to fix old dams dwindled before this spring’s floods
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state lawmakers devoted tens of millions of dollars to dam safety, repairs and removals following devastating dam failures in mid-Michigan in May 2020. Though that allowed for improvements, it was only a dent in the overall need of Michigan’s aging, crumbling dams.
Now, as floodwaters threaten old dams in multiple communities statewide, the money attempting to prevent costly dam disasters is gone.
—Keith Matheny
Current Michigan warnings, advisories
To view warning details, click on a shaded region on the map — zoom in if needed. The dark green shading indicates a flood watch. The neon green shading indicates either a flood warning or a flood advisory.
Additional details from the National Weather Service on the flood watches and the flood warnings are also available online.
Live Michigan weather radar
DNR scrambles to salvage steelhead egg collection
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources raises in hatcheries and then stocks one of its prized sports fish, steelhead, with eggs collected from the fish exclusively at a weir on the Little Manistee River in Manistee County. The agency announced earlier this week that it lost a number of steelhead it was holding for egg collection following a storm that caused electrical damage knocking out its facility’s main power source, backup power and the notification system that alerts staff to power failures.
But the DNR on Friday afternoon, April 17, announced steelhead egg collection was able to continue at Little Manistee River Weir, with more than a million eggs collected. Additional egg collection efforts at this location are planned for next week.
The DNR’s steelhead egg collection target for this season is 3.5 million eggs for Michigan’s state fish hatcheries. Once the egg quota for Michigan’s stocking needs has been met, out of state requests will be considered.
To attempt to meet its target, the DNR is also deploying at the Lower Platte River Weir in Benzie County to secure additional steelhead eggs, should they be required. While the lower weir is in operation, anglers are reminded that the Platte River is closed to fishing within 300 feet of the structure.
—Keith Matheny
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cheboygan Dam water level drops again, rain continues: Flood updates
Reporting by Tanya Wildt and Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
