Michigan's Smallwood Lake Begins Refill Six Years After Dam Disaster, $50.2 Million Rebuild Completed
Smallwood Lake in Michigan has begun refilling, six years after a catastrophic dam disaster led to its drawdown. This significant milestone follows the completion of a $50.2 million rebuild of the Smallwood Dam. The refill process, which commenced on August 4, is projected to take between eight and ten weeks, contingent on weather conditions. This effort aims to restore the lake for 721 waterfront properties. The Four Lakes Task Force, responsible for the wider restoration of Michigan's Four Lakes system, confirmed that work at Smallwood Dam has progressed sufficiently to allow the lake to start filling, even as construction continues at other dam sites. Before the refill, crews finalized critical work, including the installation of pipes and electrical systems, and reinforced areas around the dam's main and backup water routes. While Smallwood Lake is now in the refilling stage, other dams in the system, such as Secord and Edenville, are still under construction, with Secord Dam experiencing a delay in it... 
