MDEQ: July storm a 1,000-year event

Since the July 11 storm ravaged the Gogebic Range and beyond, the debate has raged.

Was it a 25-year storm, 50-year event or perhaps a 100-year occurrence?

Last week, Linda Hansen,, of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Resources Division, offered an answer.

“Per our DEQ Hydrologic Studies Unit, these intensities and durations meet or exceed a 1,000-year storm event,” she said.

“The Gogebic County Airport reported 9 inches of rain in six hours, while weather observers near Lake Superior recorded up to 11 inches of rain in four hours,” Hansen said.

Her comments were included in a Department of Natural Resources report on storm damage repair efforts in the western Upper Peninsula.

That storm was followed up 10 days later by a complex of thunderstorms packing strong winds, up to 90 mph, causing further damage.

Porkies damage

The July 11 storm caused significant damage on the western half of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, while the second storm hit the eastern half of the park.

The National Weather Service office in Negaunee Township confirmed pockets of significant tree damage from Ontonagon east toward Baraga.

Porkies officials announced that most of the recent back country cabin and campsite closures were lifted last Tuesday, two days ahead of schedule.

The cabins that closed temporarily on July 14 included the Big Carp six-bunk and four-bunk cabins and the four-bunk Lake Superior cabin.

Ten back country campsites were also closed between the mouths of the Big and Little Carp rivers.

“Thanks to help of some dedicated crews, these cabins reopened ahead of schedule,” said John Pepin, deputy public information officer for the MDNR. “This comes as great news for park visitors at the height of the summer camping season at the park.”

While some cabins and campsites have reopened, several features at the Porcupine Mountains remained closed.

The Speaker’s Cabin south of the Lake Superior shoreline, on the west end of the park, was moved. Flooding undercut the banks along the creek, chewing away nearly 10 feet of shoreline near the cabin.

“We had three major maintenance crews, along with our interior crew, working on moving Speaker’s Cabin,” said Porcupine Mountains-Lake Gogebic state parks unit manager Jeff Gaertner.

Speaker’s Cabin remains closed until Aug. 20.

At the Presque Isle Campground, located on the western end of the park, campsite 36 is closed permanently. Floodwaters collapsed the sides of a stream bank, undermining a steep embankment situated next to the campsite.

At the Union Bay Campground, on the east end of the park, the roof of a yurt structure blew off during the July 21 windstorm.

A trail bridge over the Big Carp River washed out during the recent flooding. Trail users should seek a safe natural crossing upstream until the bridge can be replaced.

Floating debris from 85 boats damaged or destroyed at Saxon Harbor July 11 drifted toward the Porcupine Mountains. The day after the storm, numerous trees were seen floating off the mouth of Speaker’s Creek.

The DNR staff, moving supplies to Speaker’s Cabin by boat, found floating debris, mostly garbage, still on the lake surface. In a remote section of shoreline at the Porkies, park staff found a smashed travel trailer that floated ashore.