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Michigan Activates Emergency as Cheboygan Dam Faces Flooding

4/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources increased pump capacity at Cheboygan dam after Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center to manage rising water levels, deploying about 2,000 sandbags.
Forecasts predict up to 2 inches of rain, with river levels at 15 inches below the dam’s top.
Residents may evacuate.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is being consulted to explore reopening a hydroelectric station at the dam.

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Story summary

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources increased pump capacity at Cheboygan dam after Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center to manage rising water levels, deploying about 2,000 sandbags.
Forecasts predict up to 2 inches of rain, with river levels at 15 inches below the dam’s top.
Residents may evacuate.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is being consulted to explore reopening a hydroelectric station at the dam.