Cheboygan officials are still fighting rising water near the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex after a levee breach along the Little Black River triggered fresh evacuation and shelter planning. The latest updates show crews using sandbags, large pumps and heavy equipment to slow the water while state and local agencies keep a close watch on additional rain and runoff.
The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office also released an evacuation map for the area affected by the breach. The zone stretches from the US-23 shoreline near Pries Landing south to the Cheboygan River, then down to Lincoln St., back along Court St., to Levering Rd. and Inverness Trail, before returning to the US-23 shoreline.
What officials are doing at the dam
Crews at the dam have been placing giant sandbags known as “super sacks” and setting up two 24-inch pumps to move water away from the structure. Officials said workers are also using a large crane to remove the dam’s six gates so water can move as freely as possible through the system.
Mike Janisse, who leads the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team in Cheboygan, said the response is happening from several directions at once. “We’re working from all different angles of this,” Janisse said in an update, adding that many agencies are involved in the effort.
Officials said the lock remains closed because it is built for controlled water flow when boats pass through. They warned that an uncontrolled release could damage infrastructure at the lock and increase erosion around the site.
Current water levels and state response
Water at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex rose another .06 inches by 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to the latest update. That left the water level 7.08 inches from the top of the structure, keeping pressure on response teams as they continue emergency work.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the State Emergency Operations Center activation as flooding concerns spread across Michigan. She said the move will help officials continue pumping and sandbagging at the Cheboygan site while also sending supplies to other parts of the state facing flood risk.
“Protecting Michiganders and their property is our top priority,” Whitmer said in the announcement, citing high water levels, more rain in the forecast and the need to support local communities with resources.
Shelters and evacuation support
The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office also released an updated list of shelter sites for residents forced from their homes by flooding. The available locations include the Wolverine Senior Center, Waverly Township Hall, Benton Township Hall, Benton Township Community Center, Cheboygan Senior Center, Knights of Columbus Hall, Church of the Straits and the Alverno Fire Department.
- Wolverine Senior Center, 655 Wolverine Road
- Waverly Township Hall, 11133 Twin School Road
- Benton Township Hall, 5012 Orchard Beach Road
- Benton Township Community Center, 5014 Orchard Beach Road
- Cheboygan Senior Center, 1531 Sand Road
- Knights of Columbus Hall, 9840 N. Straits Highway
- Church of the Straits, 307 N. Huron Ave.
- Alverno Fire Department, 5009 Orchard Beach Road
The sheriff’s department also announced places for residents to seek evacuation support, including Waverly Township Hall, the Wolverine Senior Center and the Knights of Columbus Hall in Cheboygan. Local officials urged residents in affected areas to use the designated sites as conditions continue to change.
Weather keeps pressure on the response
Forecasts for lower Michigan call for more rain, which could add to already swollen rivers and stressed dams. The National Weather Service Probabilistic Precipitation Portal projected up to 2 inches of rain across Michigan in a 24-hour period, with the heaviest totals expected in parts of the southern Lower Peninsula.
Cheboygan was forecast to receive about 0.2 of an inch, but officials said even modest rain can prolong response efforts when the ground is frozen and drainage remains poor. That same pattern has already affected nearby communities, including Pellston, where the regional airport said floodwater has crossed over the intersection of both runways and flight cancellations may continue.
Community help grows around the response
Janisse praised the local response and said businesses and residents have stepped in with supplies, ideas and volunteer help. He said the support has helped crews keep moving as they try to protect homes, roads and critical infrastructure around the dam.
Officials continue to monitor the Cheboygan River system, the levee breach and surrounding neighborhoods as water levels remain elevated. Emergency teams said the next phase will depend on weather, pumping capacity and how much runoff continues to reach the dam area.