Water begins returning to Smallwood Lake after $50.2 million dam rebuild
The refilling of Smallwood Lake started on August 4 following the completion of a $50.2 million reconstruction of Smallwood Dam, restoring water to 721 shoreline properties.
Water is now flowing back into Smallwood Lake, marking the first refill since the 2020 dam failure, after a $50.2 million rebuild was completed. The refill, which started on August 4, is slated to take between eight and ten weeks, depending on weather, and will restore lake levels for 721 homes along the shore. Task Force President Dave Kepler said the milestone advances the broader restoration of Michigan’s Four Lakes system, even as work proceeds at Secord and Edenville dams.
Secord Dam’s schedule slipped to November due to a mis-fitted gate, though its lake refill is still planned for April 15, 2027, while Edenville Dam remains in the construction phase on both the Tittabawassee and Tobacco River sections. The Task Force is also providing shoreline-building workshops on August 25 and a public briefing on October 7, plus a cost-share program for eligible shoreline projects.
Why it matters
Restoring the lake revives recreation, property values and ecosystem health for hundreds of Michigan residents.
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