Michigan Wants to Drain This Lake. Residents Say It Doesn't Have to Happen.

Critics say Michigan is about to lose a beloved lake, but they believe there's still time to stop it.

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY, Mich. — A state plan to remove the nearly 80-year-old Roberts Lake Dam this August is drawing opposition from residents who say a northern Michigan lake treasured for its wildlife, fishing and natural beauty can be preserved without keeping the aging structure in place.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced that work will begin in August to remove the Roberts Lake Dam in Cheboygan County and replace it with a 16-foot-span bottomless box culvert. The project is expected to take about four weeks and will include gradually lowering the lake level, removing the dam and installing the new culvert beneath Roberts Lake Road.

According to the DNR, the project is designed to reconnect aquatic habitat, improve the natural flow of Twin Lakes Creek, protect road infrastructure and eliminate the risk of a future dam failure.

The dam, built by the DNR in 1948 to enhance fishing opportunities, is now 78 years old. State officials say it has exceeded its expected lifespan and was rated in poor condition during inspections conducted in 2020 and 2025. The DNR also says recurring debris and sediment buildup at the structure threatens nearby road infrastructure.

The approximately $335,000 project is being funded entirely through a federal restoration grant. State officials say rebuilding the dam to modern safety and environmental standards would cost significantly more and leave taxpayers responsible for future inspection and maintenance expenses.

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Not everyone agrees the current plan is the best option.

Randy Stewart, a local resident leading efforts to preserve the lake, argues that removing the dam will dramatically reduce the size of Roberts Lake and damage fish habitat, loon nesting areas and other wildlife resources that have existed for generations.

“It’s an awesome lake,” Stewart said. “It’s crystal clear, supports a major fishery and has been providing habitat for wildlife for more than 70 years.”

Stewart and other supporters are not necessarily asking the state to rebuild the dam. Instead, they are advocating for an alternative proposal that would remove the dam while constructing a berm and modified creek channel designed to maintain much of the lake’s current water level.

“We don’t need a dam to save the lake,” Stewart said. “If the lake can be preserved and the dam removed, why wouldn’t we look at that option?”

The DNR disputes claims that Roberts Lake will disappear. According to the agency, the lake existed before the dam was constructed and will remain on the landscape after removal. The agency says water levels are expected to return to their historical natural state, with a maximum depth of approximately five feet.

The DNR also says nearby Cochran Lake is not expected to experience any change in water levels as a result of the project.

Click here to look at the save Roberts and Cochrane Lake Facebook page.

Supporters of Roberts Lake, however, remain concerned that lowering the water level will significantly alter the character of the lake and reduce recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and fish populations.

With construction scheduled to begin in August, residents are urging state officials and lawmakers to review alternative options before work starts.

The debate highlights a broader challenge facing Michigan and other states as aging dams reach the end of their useful lives, forcing officials and communities to weigh public safety, environmental goals, costs and the future of local recreation areas.