CHEBOYGAN, Mich. – The water level at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex climbed again on Thursday morning.
As of 9:30 a.m., the water sits 5.76 inches below the top of the dam, up .72 inches since the last measurement.
That puts the area firmly in the “Set” zone under the county’s Ready, Set, Go emergency system.
“Ready” means the water is under 12 inches below the top of the dam, while the “set” phase is triggered when water drops below 6 inches from the dam’s top.
This means that residents should have a go-bag packed and be prepared to leave.
Cheboygan Dam Update 04/16/2026 at 10:20am
— MichEMHS (@MichEMHS) April 16, 2026
The Cheboygan Dam Area, and north of Cheboygan Dam is moving to the Level 2 “Set” stage of the Ready, Set, Go model. This indicates the water level is below 6” of topping the lowest point of the Cheboygan Dam Complex. Level 2 indicates a… pic.twitter.com/3zr2k3A8QE
Crews have been working around the clock at the dam complex. As of Wednesday, the DNR’s Incident Management Team has deployed two 24-inch pumps capable of moving a combined 20,000 gallons per minute, according to public information officer Laurie Abel.
Consumers Energy has said it is monitoring the situation and may proactively cut power to parts of the area. On Wednesday, more than 1,000 customers briefly lost power while the company worked on the electrical system.
Authorities are also watching two nearby dams, the Kleber Dam and the Alverno Dam, as water levels remain elevated, Cheboygan County Emergency Management Director Jeremy Runstrom said Wednesday.
What to know about the Ready, Set, Go system
State officials are using the “Ready, Set, Go” safety approach, which includes the following:
- Ready: When water is 12 inches below the top of the dam with levels rising 3 inches a day or more. Plan and/or pack in the event an evacuation becomes necessary.
- Set: When water reaches 6 inches below the top of the dam, with water levels rising at a rate of 3 inches per day or levels rising 3 inches per day and predicted to top the dam within 48 hours. Prepare by packing and preparing your family, pets and vehicle for potential departure.
- Go: When water levels are 1 inch below the top of the dam with a high probability of topping it, with the potential for failure occurring. Follow evacuation orders; roadblocks may be installed around the perimeters.