This aerial photo shows flood damage in Spalding. (Photo courtesy of Upper Limits Media)

UPPER PENINSULA — Flooding has continued throughout the Upper Peninsula this week, with much of the area under a National Weather Service Flood Warning or Flood Watch.

In Marquette County, high water levels has meant that the city of Negaunee has experienced an overwhelm of their sanitary sewer lift station near Tracy Road, and has directed sanitary sewer overflow into a nearby steam.

“The recent snow melt and rain has led to extremely high infiltration & inflow into our sanitary sewer lift station near Tracy Mine Road,” read a statement issued by the City of Negaunee Thursday afternoon.

“In an emergency effort to save potential sewer backups/basements and not have the sewage spill onto heavily used public infrastructure (roadway/greenspace); we are sending the sanitary sewer overflow into a nearby unnamed stream that leads into Tracy Mine unnamed pond area. This overflow started on April 16, 2026 at 12:45pm and is ongoing.”

Menominee County has been hit especially hard by flooding, and was on the list of counties declared by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to be in a State of Emergency on Wednesday.

“Today, I’m declaring a state of emergency for 32 additional counties following severe weather,” Whitmer said in a statement released on Tuesday. “Significant snowmelt, record rain, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes have damaged homes, roads, and businesses. This emergency declaration will help the state deploy additional resources to help local officials and first responders protect Michiganders and their property. The state will continue to coordinate with local governments and monitor the situation. I encourage everyone to stay updated and follow guidance from your local emergency manager. We will get through this together.”

Declaring a state of emergency authorizes the use of all available state resources to assist local response and recovery operations in the affected counties, and allows eligible communities to seek financial assistance under Section 19 of Michigan’s Emergency Management Act, Public Act 390 of 1976, as amended.

The Menominee County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Monday stating that “Rising floodwaters have caused dangerous conditions throughout our county, including impassable roads, sinkholes, washed out bridges, impacts to utilities and infrastructure, and flooding to homes and businesses.

“The Menominee River is expected to rise for another 24 to 48 hours (as of Monday). We urge all local residents to have a flood emergency plan, and to use extreme caution near standing and moving floodwaters. Do not drive through flooded areas – unseen hazards may exist below the water’s surface. Follow local detours and road closures.”

Delta County has also experienced significant flooding. On Tuesday, the city of Escanaba released a statement that they would begin discharging wastewater into the receiving waters of Little Bay de Noc.

“Due to high volume of ground water, sump pump discharges, and rain events, the Escanaba Wastewater Department was forced to initiate wastewater bypass at the 23rd Ave. Life Station starting Monday, April 13, 2026,” read the statement.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.