Water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex continue to decline, but several waterways remain closed in Cheboygan County, almost a month after state officials began monitoring local dams amid concerns of widespread flooding.
As of Friday, public access is still restricted along the Cheboygan River, north of the Cheboygan Dam, out of concern for public safety, according to Michigan State Police. Officials have not said when the restrictions may be lifted. The state has said that high water levels, debris, fast currents and damage near the dam pose a danger to anyone on the river.
Typically, the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex provides access to Michigan’s Inland Waterway for boating, fishing and other recreation, as well as for commercial watercraft.
Further south, the Black River, which flows into the Cheboygan, is also closed downstream of the Alverno Dam, through May 8.
The Indian River and Crooked River, both also part of the Inland Waterway, remained closed to the public as well, along with multiple boating access sites managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“Officials encourage residents and visitors to adhere to all posted closures and safety advisories as recovery efforts continue,” MSP said in a press release.
Mid-April flooding forced road closures and near-evacuation conditions as water rose to within inches of overtopping the Cheboygan Dam, threatening widespread downstream inundation. The conditions damaged numerous waterfront homes, flooded low-lying areas and disrupted roads and shoreline infrastructure along connected waterways.
Much of Cheboygan County and neighboring Emmet County remain under a Flood Warning through May 7. The National Weather Service said roads and structures near lakes and rivers will continue to see high water levels, with conditions expected to improve slowly into next week.
Scattered showers are expected in northern Michigan Sunday through Tuesday.
“Officials continue to monitor conditions closely while coordinated recovery and maintenance efforts remain underway across the region,” MSP said.
‘Ready, Set, Go’ warning ends
Meanwhile, waters at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex continue to recede, officials said. As of Friday, the Cheboygan River was just under 14 inches below the top of the dam.
The dam’s hydroelectric plant is privately owned, while the dam’s lock and spillway are owned by the state. The two entities are working together to control the water levels.
On Friday, the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office said it lifted its “Ready, Set, Go” model, which was put in place to keep residents informed about the possible necessity of evacuation.
“Officials emphasize that multiple factors are continuously evaluated to ensure water levels remain stable and do not rise again at the dam,” the sheriff’s office said in an update posted to social media.
State and local officials have been monitoring the dam since before April 7. The level peaked on April 16, when the river was measured at less than 5 inches from the top of the dam.
More: Floods put Michigan dams on verge of failure. Will lawmakers raise standards?
The dam’s hydroelectric turbine has been temporarily shut down for repairs, officials said, but the bypass gates remain fully open.
“While this initially resulted in a modest and expected increase in water levels at the dam, officials confirm that water flow through the dam complex continues to exceed the current river inflow,” MSP said Friday.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Access to Cheboygan River remains restricted as levels drop
