I'll also attempt to answer some questions. I think the cut would have eroded enough to cause dam failure, I'd guess at the rate it was expanding far less than 24 hours. This dam was installed by the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation under the direction of the NRCS, probably close to 20 years ago. There has been some type of dam in place for far longer than that. The emergency spill way was working well, I think this is only the 3rd time it has been used. I have considered cameras but don't know how I would hide them, they could just cut the tree down if spotted for easy removal. As rainman suggested my first thought was pipe collapse, perhaps muskrat damage and I wish it had been that but I'm still getting good flow out the 12" outlet pipe. I've spoken to most of my friends and neighbors and they understand how water erodes so it's very doubtful they were trying to "help" out. Average normal depth is 6'maybe a touch more so there aren't any fish at this time. The red outlines in the satview are where I'll be working the dragline. At the moment I'm waiting to speak in person with the local authorities.
Bryan
