Some 32 billion gallons of snowmelt and rainfall-swelled waters must pass from downriver lakes through the Cheboygan dam before the threat is eased.

Federal records show ownership disputes and repeated deadline extensions kept hydroelectric facility idle since 2023 fire

DNR staff and contractors use rakes, heavy machinery and marine vessels to keep the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex flowing after record March snowfall and rain caused rivers to swell.

State Rep. Cam Cavitt today gave an update on the status of the Cheboygan Dam and thanked all responding teams for their successful efforts in lowering the water level. Emergency response crews have continued to pump hundreds of millions of gallons of water through the dam each day.

As waters recede from Michigan’s latest dam failure crisis, Michigan leaders are once again vowing action on reforms that could help prevent similar crises in the future.

Crews were responding to new sinkholes at Alverno this weekend as they worked to reduce overtopping and erosion risk upstream of Cheboygan.

Officials have known about the dangers of the Cheboygan Lock and Dam for years, but failed to compel private owners to make repairs.