Restoration work on an aging water control structure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is moving forward as state officials advance a dam reconstruction project intended to improve wetland management and preserve public natural resources. The initiative addresses infrastructure damaged by a partial failure several years ago while supporting long-term environmental management within a state wildlife area.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has started rebuilding the Net River Dam in southern Baraga County. Construction activities began in late June and are scheduled for completion during the fall.
Originally constructed in the early 1960s, the dam creates the approximately 200-acre impoundment within the Net River Flooding State Wildlife Management Area. The project is designed to restore normal water elevations while improving management of wetland habitat and wild rice resources after construction is complete.
To accommodate the work, water levels have been lowered throughout the impoundment. As a result, the boating access site and parking area are temporarily closed, and wild rice beds along the Net River will remain inaccessible during the summer and fall construction period.
The reconstruction effort brings together multiple project partners, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division and Parks and Recreation Division, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, GEI Consultants and MJO Contracting.
The need for reconstruction follows a partial failure of the structure in 2022 when corrosion caused the central water control structure to collapse, creating a sinkhole and washing out an access road. Despite the failure, the upstream and downstream embankments continued functioning as intended by retaining water.
State officials classify the remote Net River Dam as a low-hazard structure, indicating that it presents minimal risk to public safety, nearby property and downstream environmental resources.
Dam rehabilitation projects help public agencies maintain aging infrastructure while protecting wetlands, wildlife habitat and recreational resources. For contractors and construction owners, projects involving water control structures often require coordination between environmental agencies, engineering consultants, tribal partners and specialty contractors to balance construction activities with ecological management objectives. Successful completion of the Net River Dam reconstruction will restore normal water management operations within the state wildlife area while improving long-term stewardship of the site's wetland ecosystem.
Source: Department Of Natural Resources.
