Cedar Lake Level Control Structure

Cedar Lake is located in both Alcona and Iosco Counties near Oscoda, Michigan. The 5.9-mile-long lake is approximately 1,075 acres in size. Cedar Lake is unique because it has a very small drainage area and doesn’t receive any inflow from artesian or free-flowing springs or rivers.

The Lakes control structure, built in 1954 where Cedar Creek outflows, had many underlying issues that were never fully resolved. The biggest was associated with the possible failure of the control structure to convey enough water during a high-flow situation. If the Lake were to rise a mere 3 inches, there would be risk of flood damage not only for the homes and properties near the Lake but the septic systems as well.

Spicer Group was hired to provide engineering design services for the construction of a new control structure which would help prevent flooding of the surrounding area. Spicer Group assisted in amending the existing part 307 Legal Lake Level and established a special assessment district to fund these efforts. Improvement efforts for the new control structure included removal of the old structure and constructing an entirely new one that consists of a sheetpile weir and a seven-foot by three-foot box culvert.