EVACUATE NOW - Flooding continues along the Muskegon river below Croton. Stay out of closed areas.
UPDATE 3 - April 17, 2026 at 09:00 AM
* Water levels continue to rise on the Muskegon River with continued rainfall. Anyone remaining in the normal river floodplain below Croton Dam is directed to Evacuate NOW.
* There is NO threat to the dams at this time.
* STAY OUT of affected areas. DO NOT cross barricades. Additional law enforcement is patrolling the affected areas. You may be cited and or arrested if you are in a closed area.
* Anyone choosing to remain in the floodplain, public safety services will not be available until conditions become safe to respond.
* All Public River Access Sites along the Muskegon River below Croton are CLOSED due to unsafe conditions.
* The Public River Access Sites along the White River near the Hesperia Dam are CLOSED due to unsafe conditions.
* A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the White River below the Hesperia Dam.
* Evacuation Center is available at Newaygo County Commission on Aging located at 93 S Gibbs in White Cloud.
* Please call 2-1-1 for general support
* Please call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency
MUSKEGON RIVER WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW
Three USGS Streamgages are used to determine the river levels.
As of 8:30 am, the Muskegon River near
- MAJOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Croton Streamgage was at 12.56 feet with flows at 14,800 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 9.0 feet.
- MAJOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Newaygo Streamgage was at 17.05 feet with flows at 12,800 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 11.0 feet.
- MAJOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Bridgeton Streamgage was at 18.79 feet with flows at 11,400 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 13.0 feet.
Current levels can be viewed here: https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/grr
Michigan State Police Aviation will be surveying the river with a helicopter today.
AREAS IMPACTED
- Anticipate the following areas to be impacted by flood waters on the Muskegon River
- Leisure Land Subdivision in Bridgeton Township
- Sycamore Flats in Ashland Township
- 100th Ave in Ashland Township
- Old Women’s Bend in Garfield Township
- Anderson Flat’s in Garfield Township
- Fright Hill in Bridgeton Township
- Homesite Park in Bridgeton Township
- River Ridge in Ashland Township
- Bell Meadow Drive in Bridgeton Township
- Devil’s Hole in Brooks Township
- Sarrell Street in the City of Newaygo
CLOSED ROADS
The following roads are temporarily closed due to washouts/water over the roadway as of 9:00 AM 04/17/2026. Please find an alternate route:
- Division Street Bridge (Maple Island Road) in the Village of Hesperia
- Michigan Street Bridge in the Village of Hesperia
- Lee Ave. south of Lake Dr. in Sheridan Township. Culvert failure.
- Ramshorn Dr. south of 32nd St. in Dayton Township.
- Comstock Ave. near Adams St. in Denver Township.
- Baldwin Ave between Baseline and 8th in Sherman Township
- 112th between Fitzgearld and Dickinson in Bridgeton Township
- Bridge Street Bridge in City of Newaygo
- Spruce Ave between 1 Mile Rd and the 5 Mile Creek Bridge
- 12 Mile Rd West of Oak
- Parson Ave South of North River Dr.
- Felch Ave North of 96
th St.
- Maple Island Bridge at the Muskegon River
FLOODING SAFETY
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®
- Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
- Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
- If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
- ONLY CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT EMERGENCIES! Emergency operators and phone lines are needed to support this incident, please continue to monitor Nixle for updates or call 2-1-1 (not 9-1-1) for general safety information.
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED! Continue monitoring Nixle, and Newaygo ES’s Facebook Page for additional information.
- THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!
Continuing Information Will Be Released Via NIXLE
Newaygo County Emergency Services is coordinating with Consumers Energy and the National Weather Service Grand Rapids Office to actively monitor the changing conditions and communicate information out to residences impacted by the rising floodwaters. Additional information will be released by Newaygo County Emergency Operations Center utilizing Nixle. Please visit http://www.nixle.com or text NewaygoES to 888777 to opt into messages.
