Smallwood Lake begins refilling following dam disaster repairs

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On August 4, 2026, Smallwood Lake began a refill process expected to last eight to 10 weeks following the completion of a $50.2 million rebuild of the Smallwood Dam. The Four Lakes Task Force, led by President Dave Kepler, initiated the refill to restore water access for 721 waterfront properties affected by a catastrophic dam failure six years prior. While Smallwood has reached this milestone, construction remains ongoing at the Secord and Edenville dams, with Secord facing a schedule adjustment due to a gate installation error.

Consequences

Property owners will regain the use of their waterfront land as the lake levels return to capacity over the coming months. The Four Lakes Task Force is facilitating this transition by providing educational resources on natural shoreline protection and offering a cost-share program to assist with private property restoration.

Sources

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