Crews worked through the night?Sunday?to increase the flow of water through the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex, using a crane to remove gates from the dam, adding?pumps?and bringing in a load of?electric cable needed to reopen the hydroelectric station and further increase flow.
“We had a productive session overnight and we are continuing our work today,” said Mike Janisse, leader of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Incident Management Team that is leading the effort to mitigate flooding while preserving the dam and lock.
Efforts late Sunday included the following:
Using the crane – so large it took?multiple?trucks to carry – to remove gates from the dam.?Although?all of?the dam’s six?gates?have been open, removing the doors increases the water flow capacity.
Bringing industrial wire from Illinois to Cheboygan, where it will be installed to fully open the dam’s hydroelectric station, which also will increase flow. Work began last night and continues today.
Efforts?planned today include adding?to the five?pumps?already?moving water around the dam and?additional?sandbagging in the area.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has closed the?US-23 bascule bridge in Cheboygan?near the dam by raising its deck to the open position.?The foundation of the bridge, built in 1940, is susceptible to erosion during flood events. Traffic is being detoured to the Lincoln Avenue Bridge. An operator from the Cheboygan County Road Commission can open the bridge in an emergency if needed.
The DNR, county and city officials?also?have worked together to create a map of the river and safety zone around it.
Water levels?remain?unpredictable.?This?map shows?the?current?projected areas of potential flooding.
Purple Zone: This is an active work zone and?is?closed to the public. Please stay out of this area.
Cautionary?Zone:?This is the target area for?potential flooding.?Please avoid this area if possible.?Community members?within this area?should be prepared with a go bag and secure valuables.?The Cautionary Zone?will be updated?as the situation evolves.
“We’re?all working together to?keep?water flowing through the dam and to make sure that people are?informed,”?said Jeremy Runstrom, emergency manager for Cheboygan County.
Additional?rain is expected in the area over the next several days. The Cheboygan River helps drain the watershed in the area into Lake Huron.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer?declared a?state of emergency?beginning Friday?for Cheboygan County due to rising water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex.
For tips on?how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit?www.michigan.gov/miready.?Cheboygan County officials also are encouraging?local residents?to sign up for notifications through?Be Alert.
Crews worked through the night?Sunday?to increase the flow of water through the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex, using a crane to remove gates from the dam, adding?pumps?and bringing in a load of?electric cable needed to reopen the hydroelectric station and further increase flow.
