Above: One small dam has already failed in Northern Michigan, several larger more dangerous dams are in critical risk.
Video Description:
“A small private dam in Alcona County failed as heavy rain and snowmelt continue pushing rivers and impoundments beyond capacity in northern Michigan. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) said it was notified Monday night, April 13 that Bucks Pond Dam near Barton City failed. Luke Trumble, chief of EGLE’s Dam Safety Unit, said the dam is a low-hazard, privately-owned homeowners association dam with limited downstream risk.”
Michigan today continues to be in the grip of an extremely unusual weather pattern that has the entire state under a Flood Watch. Heavy rains and storms are staying in the forecast as floodwaters already have swamped areas across Northern Michigan.
The dangerously rising waters have prompted evacuations in some residential areas, triggered the failure of small dams, and has state and local officials closely monitoring larger dams near populated areas as high water threatens to overtop them and flood areas downstream. A handful of communities are on alert with evacuation plans in place.
Concerns have mounted for dams across Michigan as melting snow and rain stress their infrastructure, including in Bellaire where residents and businesses on the Intermediate River downstream of the Bellaire Dam were preparing to evacuate Wednesday.
The water level at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam was 6.72 inches below the top as of noon Wednesday, a drop of 0.12 inches from 9 a.m.
Northwest Michigan officials have declared a local state of emergency as they work to stabilize Benzie County’s Homestead Dam.
The Homestead Dam, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources-owned dam on the Betsie River, is at risk for overflowing as severe thunderstorms and snowmelt raise water levels, according to the Benzie County Office of Emergency Management and National Weather Service forecasts.
The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office is strongly urging residents of the Black Lake area to begin preparing for a potential rise in water levels.
Residents should secure any valuables, outdoor items or debris that could be damaged or carried away by water.
According to the sheriff department’s Facebook post, “We have received information indicating that there may be a significant influx of water is expected to enter Black Lake within the next 24–48 hours.”
Per the MLive report:
According to National Weather Service in Gaylord, MI:
Tuesday broke another daily rainfall record at the office 9 miles southwest of Gaylord with 1.79 inches of rainfall.
This month has set the all-time April monthly rainfall record with 8.25 inches (and counting) as of midnight April 15th.
The area has officially observed the wettest Meteorological Spring (March 1 – May 31) on record at the Gaylord office with 14.46 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation (and counting) as of midnight April 15th.
Flooding from Monday’s severe weather is affecting much of the area, with authorities across northeast Wisconsin all sharing one common message: “Drive with caution.”
In Brown County, the Sheriff’s Office is reporting several areas of flooding, especially at Monroe Road and Hoffman Road in De Pere, which is now closed due to flood waters on the road. Deputies are asking that the public not drive around the barricades in this area, as they state, “You won’t make it.“