April 14, 2026
Work continued at the Cheboygan Dam and Lock Complex Tuesday, with workers placing giant-sized sandbags known as “super sacks” and working to put two, 24-inch pumps in place to move water around the dam.
“We’re working from all different angles of this,” said Mike Janisse, leader of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Incident Management Team that is deployed to Cheboygan. “We have many cooperators and everyone is putting forth a strong effort.”
The river, swollen by snowmelt and spring rain, threatened to overwhelm the lock and dam, a landmark in downtown Cheboygan. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Friday, and DNR teams have been working since then to increase water flow through the dam.
This work has included sandbagging, pumping water around the dam and using a large crane to remove the dam’s six gates to allow for the freest flow of water.
The lock on the dam remains closed because it is designed for a controlled flow of water as it raises or lifts boats to make the transition from Lake Huron to the Inland Waterway. Allowing an uncontrolled flow could damage the lock’s infrastructure and cause erosion that could catastrophically damage a privately-owned hydroelectric power house or cause erosion around the lock, jeopardizing the dam.
Janisse said workers have been grateful for community interest and support.
“Merchants have worked with us on providing materials, people have given us ideas and have even volunteered to help. We appreciate it and we are going to do everything we can to protect this area. Mother Nature needs to help as well.”
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