Lexington State Harbor will undergo four major maintenance and enhancement projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the DNR in 2026 and 2027. These projects will require a series of closures that will impact the marina, slip reservations, the fuel dock, sanitary pump-out station and the adjacent boating access site. These projects are in addition to the Tierney Park upgrades being performed by the Village of Lexington.
Any updates to construction timelines will be posted here, including dates when slip reservations will become available.
| Project dates / areas impacted | Project type | Project information | Marina | Boating access site | Fuel dock and sanitary pump-out station |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 Marina, fuel dock, boating access site, sanitary pump-out station impacted |
Dredging |
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project includes essential dredging of the federal navigation channel. The work will requiring a full marina closure, including the fuel dock and sanitary pump-out station. The boating access site will also close due to blocked ingress/egress between the harbor and Lake Huron. |
Entire marina closed through June 30, 2026 | Closed through Sept. 8, 2026 | Closed through June 30, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 Northern section slips, boating access site impacted |
Breakwall repairs |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will perform necessary repair work on the breakwall surrounding the harbor. Slips in the northern section will be unavailable. Please note that construction may generate significant noise for 12 or more hours a day, affecting all areas of the harbor. The boating access site will remain closed. |
Slips #11-29, 40-57, 78-86, 89-92 and 95-99 closed July 1, 2026 - Sept. 8, 2026 |
Closed through Sept. 8, 2026 | Not impacted |
| Fall 2026 Marina, fuel dock, pump-out station impacted |
Harbor redevelopment |
The DNR will begin replacing all in-water structures within the marina. The work will require a full closure, including fuel dock and sanitary pump-out station. |
Entire marina closed Sept. 8, 2026 - May 28, 2027 | Closed through Sept. 8, 2026 | Closed Sept. 8, 2026 - May 28, 2027 |
|
Summer 2027 |
Shoal removal |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will dredge the shoaling inside the breakwall surrounding the harbor. |
To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
To address dam deficiencies, the DNR, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, is moving forward with a phased plan to lower the water level of Hall Lake. Located in Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County, this project is a planned safety initiative designed to increase safety while protecting outdoor recreation. Funding was secured through an EGLE Dam Risk Reduction Grant.
The project calls for an initial drawdown of 3 feet this fall and another 3 feet in 2026.
Fall drawdown and boating accessAs part of the EGLE emergency drawdown order, a phased plan to lower Hall Lake's elevation began after Labor Day. The boating access site will be closed during this period, and its reopening will be reevaluated after the drawdown is complete.
A separate, additional drawdown is planned for 2026. That one will be to move the lake to its new level and replace the culvert under Gun Lake Road.
Background
Following a routine spring inspection and subsequent engineering analysis, EGLE issued an emergency drawdown order due to the poor condiation of the dam with a recognized deficiency for loading conditions. Hall Lake Dam is classified as a "significant hazard" dam which indicates that a dam failure could cause economic and environmental damage or disrupt essential downstream services, such as Gun Lake Road, though a loss of life is unlikely.
Discussing a possible drawdown of Hall Lake Dam with the public was an integral part of considering the dam’s future, including feedback via a March 12, 2025 public information session and online survey in March 2024. Thank you to everyone that provided valuable input.
Development is officially underway at the 70-acre Houghton Douglass Falls and Veterans Memorial Scenic Site. Once completed, the public site will feature a vault toilet, a gravel parking area and a dedicated veterans’ memorial. Safe access to the falls will be provided via a pedestrian path, pedestrian bridge, safety barriers and an accessible observation deck.
Project timeline and phases
The site will officially open to the public and be dedicated as a scenic site once all improvements are completed.
Funding
Thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund awarded in 2015, the DNR purchased the land from a private owner in 2018. Phase 1 was successfully completed in 2025 with $600,000 in state and capital outlay funds. Phase 2 will be supported by a $1 million Land and Water Conservation Fund grant awarded in 2025.
Public input
The final site plan reflects a collaborative effort between the DNR and the local community. Following a public meeting in December 2023, the DNR integrated feedback from local residents, government entities and tourism leaders. Notably, the Hubbell VFW Post 4624 provided invaluable insights to ensure the site properly honors those who served.
More info
For more information, contact Doug Rich, DNR Parks and Recreation Division Western U.P. district supervisor, at 906-353-6651 or RichD@Michigan.gov.
Visitors to Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park can soon look forward to significant improvements that will help ;modernize the park’s facilities, enhance visitor access and traffic flow and improve accessibility. The DNR is utilizing $8.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan. Additionally, the Michigan Department of Transportation is investing $1.6 million in enhancements to U.S. 31 and Three Mile Road.
DNR enhancements
The modern campground closed July 7, 2025, and will remain closed through the entire 2026 season. It is scheduled to reopen on April 1, 2027.
The Lake Michigan beach day-use area will mostly remain open, but visitors should be prepared for occasional closures during intersection work.
MDOT work
MDOT will begin its $1.6 million enhancement project in spring 2026. A new double left-turn lane will be added from U.S. 31 to Three Mile Road, and the existing traffic signal will be updated. The day-use beach entrance will be moved east to align with this signal, which will also be updated. An ADA-compliant pedestrian crossing will be installed at the intersection.
Pedestrian bridge update
The pedestrian bridge was removed in September 2025. The DNR is committed to working with the community to find a new location for the pedestrian bridge. Several things have to be accomplished before a new bridge compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines can be built. This includes identification and acquisition of appropriate land where the bridge can be located. Adequate funding for the project also must be identified, since such funding does not exist within the current DNR budget. The DNR is working toward those goals with state partners, the local community and state legislators, including Rep. Betsy Coffia, Rep. John Roth and Sen. John Damoose.
The design
This extensive project, largely shaped by feedback from the 2021 general management planning process and detailed in the Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park General Management Plan, builds upon a 2011 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant that enabled the acquisition of property to improve park circulation.
Contact
For more details on the project, contact Stephanie Rosinski, Traverse City and Leelanau state parks supervisor, at 231-922-5270 or RosinskiS@Michigan.gov.
Two key boating facilities on Old Mission Peninsula – East Arm and Bowers Harbor boating access sites – will receive upgrades, including paving and accessibility improvements to enchance public recreational boating opportunities in the Grand Traverse area. Construction is anticipated in 2026.
In September 2023, a fire at the Great Lakes Tissue plant led to the shutdown of the plant’s hydroelectric generator. The Great Lakes Tissue hydroelectric facility played a key role in water level management through “fine-tuned” incremental adjustments to water levels. Without these adjustments, the DNR must exclusively use the six gates at the Cheboygan Dam to manage water levels.
Beginning Oct. 15, the Inland Waterway will undergo its seasonal drawdown. Water levels in the Inland Waterway, especially in areas along the Cheboygan River and Mullet Lake, will decrease by approximately 12 inches until March 31. This allows for better management during spring thaw and runoff. Water levels will then be replenished starting April 1, with the goal of reaching the target lake level of 593.1 feet by April 15, depending on weather conditions. In the summer, lake residents and boaters along the Inland Waterway may experience larger water level fluctuations.
