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. (Updated 5/8/26)
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 July 31, 2026 |
Open until dredging begins, then will remain closed until Dec. 1, 2026
|
Closed through July 31, 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 |
Open until dredging begins, then will remain closed until Dec. 1, 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 - July 31, 2027 | Open until dredging begins, then will remain closed until Dec. 1, 2026 | Closed Sept. 8, 2026 - July 31, 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 for drawing down Hall Lake dam at Yankee Springs Recreation Area to a lower lake elevation – a decision that addresses safety issues with the Barry County impoundment while also allowing for continued recreation use at Hall Lake.
EGLE’s Dam Safety Unit classified Hall Lake Dam as a significant hazard dam. This means failure of the dam could cause economic and environmental damage, or disrupt essential services downstream, though loss of life is unlikely. The dam also previously received a condition rating of “poor.”
The short-term aspects of decommissioning the dam include a gradual lowering of Hall Lake to an approved level, removal of the outdated water control structures, installation of a new culvert under Gun Lake Road and full restoration of the road.
Funding was secured through an EGLE Dam Risk Reduction Grant.
Timeline and boating access site closure
A routine inspection followed by an engineering analysis of the dam led to an emergency drawdown order. The DNR immediately sought the necessary permitting to begin the gradual drawdown, which took place last summer. What to expect next:
Impacts
The drawdown will reduce the size and depth of Hall Lake but will allow this body of water as well as the North Country Trail and Hall Lake Trail to remain. Once the new lake level is established, the DNR will also explore replacing the existing boating access site with a carry-down access site.
Public input
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.
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.
As part of an $8.5 million enhancement project, 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. Additionally, the Michigan Department of Transportation is investing $1.9 million in enhancements to U.S. 31 and Three Mile Road.
Project overview
Current U.S. 31 roadwork and closures
The pedestrian crosswalk at the campground signal will remain closed until fully operational. Once installed, the campground traffic signal will operate in flashing mode for up to one month before becoming fully active. The beach entrance will be accessible (although may have signed detours) for the duration of the project.
Pedestrian bridge update
While this is independent of the current enhancement project, the DNR is funding a feasibility study to explore the prospect of a new 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.
Funding
The DNR is utilizing $8.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan.
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 undergoes its annual 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.
