Six years after a catastrophic dam disaster left Smallwood Lake drawn down in Michigan, water is finally returning to the lake. The refill began on August 4, following the completion of a $50.2 million rebuild of Smallwood Dam, and is expected to take eight to 10 weeks, depending on weather conditions. The project will restore the lake for 721 waterfront properties.The refill is an important step in the wider restoration of Michigan’s Four Lakes system. The Four Lakes Task Force said work at Smallwood Dam had reached a stage where the lake could begin filling again, even as construction continues at the other dam sites. “We are excited to meet this critical milestone in restoring the Four Lakes system,” Task Force President Dave Kepler said, as quoted by Midland Daily News.Before water began returning, crews completed most of the remaining work needed to prepare the dam. This included installing pipes and electrical systems and strengthening areas around the main and backup routes that allow water to pass through the dam. With that work completed, Smallwood Lake has now moved into the next stage of the project which is refilling.
Work on schedule
The progress at Smallwood comes as crews continue rebuilding the other damaged dams in the Four Lakes system. At Secord Dam, however, the planned completion date has been pushed back to November. The delay came after crews found a problem while installing one of the large gates used to control water flow. The gate had passed quality checks before leaving the manufacturer, but two parts did not fit together correctly when workers tried to install it.Other work at Secord Dam is continuing. Crews are working on the building that will house the dam’s control systems, while work on the main spillway is nearing completion. A gate used to control water released through the lower part of the dam has also been installed.The delay has not changed the planned date for the lake to begin refilling at Secord. Kepler said the Task Force still expects to start the refill on April 15, 2027.
Lake refill began on August 4, 2026
Work is also continuing at Edenville Dam, where crews are preparing for more construction on the main structures that control water flow.At the Tittabawassee River section of the project, crews are nearing the end of another stage of work. The river has been redirected through a temporary channel, allowing workers to remove existing structures and begin building new sections of the dam.Construction is also continuing on the Tobacco River side. Crews are working on the structure that will control the movement of water and are continuing concrete and reinforcement work.The three dams are therefore at different stages of the rebuilding process. Smallwood has reached the point where its lake can begin filling, Secord is moving towards completion with some work delayed, and Edenville remains under construction.
Property owners get help
The Four Lakes Task Force is also helping property owners prepare for the return of the lakes. An in-person training session called ‘How to build your natural shoreline’ is scheduled for August 25 from 6 to 8 pm. The session will teach property owners about ways to create and protect natural shorelines.Property owners with eligible shoreline restoration projects can also apply for the Task Force’s cost-share programme. The programme can help pay for natural shoreline improvements on private property.The Task Force will hold a public information session on October 7 to cover construction at Secord, Smallwood and Edenville dams, along with project finances and information about the lake refill process.
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