Michigan Lake Vanishes After Dam Failure, Leaving Muddy Wasteland
A picturesque Michigan lake has completely disappeared after a privately-owned dam catastrophically failed, transforming the once pristine reservoir into a landscape of muddy sludge. The Buck's Pond Dam in the remote community of Barton City blew out overnight on Monday as widespread floods continued to ravage northern Michigan.
Community Landmark Lost
The dam breach sent all the water that was once held in Buck's Pond rushing through a creek and emptying into nearby Hubbard Lake. Local resident James Plohg described the terrifying moment to The Detroit News: 'It was rising, it started like just washing little parts of it away. Then it just got so big that it wasn't able to contain it. And it just opened up.'
Footage obtained by the Daily Mail captured the dramatic aftermath, showing how the torrent of water from the broken dam caused a dirt road to collapse in on itself just as a UPS driver was about to cross it. The driver managed to avoid disaster by stopping in time.
Dam Previously Deemed 'Satisfactory'
Remarkably, Buck's Pond Dam was last inspected in August 2017, with officials deeming it to be in 'satisfactory' condition and capable of withstanding a 100-year flood event. It remains unclear what exactly caused the failure, and investigators are working to determine whether the dam was overtopped, clogged with debris, or failed through another mechanism.
Plohg has been in contact with his state lawmakers in hopes of securing funding to rebuild the dam and restore the small lake that served as a cherished community hub. 'People come here to fish. There's the beach over there. Little kids came to swim, picnics, meetings, a lot of boats, pontoons go around the island. We had (boat) parades on the lake. It's not much of nothing right now,' he lamented.
Low-Hazard Classification Questioned
Despite its importance to residents, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) classified Buck's Pond Dam as a 'low-hazard dam' because officials determined its rupture would have minimal impact on other water infrastructure and property. EGLE's Dam Safety Unit Chief Luke Trumble explained that the area below the dam consists of a trail system, open-stream channel, and floodplain.
Trumble, who confirmed EGLE is monitoring the situation, stated the breach poses no significant threat to public safety. He suspects the consequences will be confined to localized flooding, possible sediment mobilization downstream, and the permanent loss of the pond itself.
Statewide Flooding Crisis
The dam failure occurs amid a broader flooding crisis across Michigan. EGLE is currently monitoring more than 20 dams across the state as heavy rain and snowmelt have caused river levels to rise dangerously. Trumble warned that officials expect additional dams to be impacted by the ongoing flooding.
Local authorities have issued targeted evacuation orders to some riverfront homeowners, with crews urgently pumping water from a dam in Cheboygan—more than 100 miles from Barton City—earlier this week after water levels elevated dramatically. Authorities even removed floodgates from the Cheboygan Lock and Dam in an attempt to relieve pressure.
Emergency Declarations and Evacuations
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared emergencies in dozens of counties because of flooding and other weather-related problems, stating, 'We are in crisis mode now.' Some residents were advised to prepare 'go bags' containing essential personal items, though Cheboygan County Sheriff Todd Ross noted the number of people in the most vulnerable zones was relatively small.
In Bellaire, a small village of just 1,000 residents, officials have urged people to reduce home water use because the wastewater treatment system is being overwhelmed, forcing the release of partially treated waste into area swamps.
Meanwhile, residents living below the Croton Dam in Newaygo County, situated along the rapidly rising Muskegon River, were ordered to evacuate. Homeowner Carl Johnson, 59, described the scene: 'It's out of the banks everywhere. It's really bad.' Bruce Carlson, who lives behind the dam, reported the roar of the water was 'deafening.' Consumers Energy, which owns the Croton Dam, has stated the structure remains structurally sound despite the extreme conditions.
