Cheboygan Sheriff Monitors Dam Levels, Urges Caution on Unverified Flood Speculation

Officials are using a 'Ready, Set, Go' framework to guide potential responses as water levels fluctuate at the local dam.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:41pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a flooded river valley, with the silhouette of a dam structure barely visible in the distance, dwarfed by the expansive, turbulent waters. The scene conveys the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural world in the face of a potential disaster.As rising waters threaten to overtop a local dam, officials urge caution and reliance on verified information to guide the community's response.Cheboygan Today

The Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office is closely monitoring water levels at a local dam and addressing speculation among residents about potential flooding. Sheriff Todd Ross emphasized that the county is not currently in any evacuation phase, despite fluctuating water levels throughout the day. Officials are using a 'Ready, Set, Go' safety framework to guide potential responses, with the ready phase beginning if water reaches 12 inches below the dam's top. Ross urged residents to rely on validated and official sources of information and avoid spreading unverified information.

Why it matters

Cheboygan County has experienced flooding issues in the past, and the potential overtopping of the dam could pose a serious threat to nearby businesses and residential areas. The sheriff's office is taking a proactive approach to manage the situation and ensure public safety, while also working to prevent the spread of misinformation that could create unnecessary panic.

The details

The sheriff's office is assisting the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team as they track conditions at the dam. Officials are using a 'Ready, Set, Go' safety framework to guide potential responses. The ready phase would begin when water reaches 12 inches below the dam's top with levels rising 3 inches daily or more. The set phase activates at 6 inches below the top with similar rise rates or when water is predicted to top the dam within 48 hours. The go phase triggers when water reaches 1 inch below the top with high probability of overtopping and potential failure.

  • Water levels have not yet reached the threshold requiring escalation to the ready stage, the sheriff said Sunday evening.
  • If water levels reach and hold at the 12-inch mark, the ready stage will be officially announced.

The players

Sheriff Todd Ross

The Cheboygan County Sheriff who is closely monitoring the water levels at the local dam and addressing speculation among residents about potential flooding.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team

The team assisting the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office in tracking conditions at the dam.

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What they’re saying

“'At this time, what we need most is cooperation from Mother Nature — less speculation, fewer hypotheticals, and a focus on verified information.'”

— Sheriff Todd Ross

What’s next

The sheriff's office will continue to provide updates as they receive information from Michigan DNR officials monitoring water levels.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of relying on official sources of information and avoiding the spread of unverified rumors during a potential emergency. The proactive approach taken by the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office aims to ensure public safety while also maintaining calm and preventing unnecessary panic.