Levee Failure Triggers Flood Warning for Cheboygan County
A levee breach along the Little Black River Watershed has triggered flooding across Cheboygan County, with conditions expected to persist through Wednesday evening.
CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN — A levee failure along the Little Black River Watershed prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flood warning for Cheboygan County on Wednesday morning, with flooding expected to continue until 8:00 PM EDT.
Local law enforcement reported the levee breach at 9:59 AM EDT, according to the National Weather Service office in Gaylord. The failure is causing flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying areas throughout the watershed.
Affected Waterways and Areas
The flooding impacts multiple waterways within the Little Black River system, including the Little Black River, South Branch Little Black River, and West Branch Little Black River. The city of Cheboygan is among the locations experiencing flood conditions.
Officials emphasized that the levee failure is unrelated to any ongoing activities at the Cheboygan Dam, according to the weather service alert.
Flood Safety Measures
Residents in flood-prone locations are urged to avoid driving through flooded roadways and to stay away from storm drains and culverts. The National Weather Service warns that even shallow moving water can knock people down, while just six inches of moving water can knock over an adult.
Emergency officials recommend that anyone in the affected areas monitor local conditions closely and be prepared to move to higher ground if necessary. Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is occurring throughout the warning area.
Duration and Monitoring
The flood warning remains in effect until 8:00 PM EDT Wednesday, though conditions will continue to be monitored by local emergency management and the National Weather Service. Residents can find additional flood safety information at weather.gov/safety/flood.
The breach occurred specifically within the Little Black River Watershed, affecting the broader drainage system that flows through northern Michigan’s Cheboygan County. Weather officials continue to assess the situation as floodwaters impact the region.
