If April showers bring May flowers, we’re headed for a very colorful spring.
Leelanau has experienced severe flooding over the past week, with more rain expected in the forecast.
Leelanau County Maintenance Supervisor Duane Flaska says the Leland Dam currently has no issues despite downpours and snowmelt causing flooding across the county.
“We anticipated it, and we lowered the dam last Friday,” Flaska said. With snowmelt and incoming rain, Flaska opened the spillways and pulled boards to lower the water level and manage water flow.
“We got a good jump on it and are running at even levels. We are supposed to be at summer levels, but with all of the rain, we hope to reach summer levels in 30 days,” Flaska said. “We are going to keep the dam open and spillway until we reach a safe enough level.”
The current level of the Leland Dam is eight feet and two inches, lower than the typical summer level of nine feet two inches due to opening the spillways. A Circuit Court decision years ago established a water level to be maintained by the county.
Facilities Manager Patrick Roach tips his cap to Flaska for staying ahead, while reiterating that the area won’t have Flaska forever and that another person will need to learn the ropes of controlling the Leland Dam in the future.
The county has recently adopted a working emergency action plan developed with Leelanau County Director of Emergency Management Matt Ansorge to have something in place just in case.
Flaska also reports that the ponds at Veronica Valley Park have flooded over, wiping out a 60-by-40-foot section of maintenance road.
From Empire to Northport, widespread flooding has been reported.
Over a three-day period, the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Station reports 3.75 inches of rain.
The Maple City weather station reported two inches of rain on Sunday, April 12, while another half an inch fell on Monday and 1.7 inches poured on Tuesday.
Northport has reported over an inch of rain over the past three days, with more rain expected across the area.
As of presstime Wednesday, Leelanau remained under a flood warning through Thursday night, as warm temps melt remaining snow and rain showers are expected.
For Glen Lake baseball coach Kris Herman, who has been dealing with flooding at his house, he has four pumps running in his basement.
“It’s been crazy, but my mom always told me, anytime you think you have it bad, somebody’s always got it worse,” Herman said.
Rain has ravaged the Glen Arbor area, as the Mill and the Homestead reported flooding issues, with multiple Crystal River culverts removed for bridge repairs over the past year.
Glen Arbor resident and local realtor, Ranae Ihme, has lived in her house for 21 years and has never had flooding issues until this storm.
“We keep reminding ourselves how lucky we are… in 21 years, we’ve never experienced anything like this. Our crawl space is completely filled, and so many photos, important items, and electronics are underwater. It didn’t get into our home, and for that we’re incredibly grateful—but it’s still tough to take in. Mother Nature is powerful,”Ihme said.
