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Frankenmuth News

Serving Frankenmuth since 1906

Volume 120 ~ No. 40

April 8, 2026

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  RETURN OF THE DUCK POND? Last week's deluge of rain brought the Cass River water level to just over 22 feet. Above, the former "duck pond" and ice skating rink, now the Hund Platz, saw water cover the chain-link fence and into the parking lot. (Under the Radar Imaging drone photo)

Cass River swells to top 10 flood event -

22.1 feet!

  The Frankenmuth community endured its second moderate flooding episode over the past weekend, while many here celebrated Spring Break or Easter.

  The heavy rainfall over Saturday and into Sunday created massive flooding for the second time over the past month.

  As of Monday, in Frankenmuth Township, two roads were or continue to be closed due to the rainfall.

  Curtis Road near Maple Road is closed due to water over the road. The water level reached depths over 12 inches and covered quite an area at that bridge and field. West Tuscola Road, at Beyer Road, is also closed.

  “West Tuscola Road is closed near the dirt part of Beyer Road as of Saturday night,” Frankenmuth Township Supervisor Jeff Frahm said. “The rain created a washout under part of the road, making it unsafe for travel. The cross tube will most likely need to be replaced, and the Saginaw County Road Commission estimates it will be several weeks before it is repaired.”

  Road Closed signs are located at both locations, with a pair of closed barricades right at the damage site on West Tuscola Road.

  Last month, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Cass River crested at 20 feet the middle of the second week of March. At 12:45pm Monday, April 6, the mighty Cass reached the 21.98-feet mark and it fell to the flood stage mark of 17 feet early Wednesday morning, April 8.

  For the Cass River in Frankenmuth, the take-action mode kicks in at 15 feet, with minor flooding at 17 feet, moderate flooding at 20 feet, and major flooding at 25 feet.

  At 22.5 feet, at least three houses by the Dixie Highway and Knott Road in Bridgeport Township, become surrounded by water, Water flows on both sides of the Cass River Bridge at Dixie Highway. At 23 feet, softball fields and picnic areas in Heritage Park by the Bavarian Inn Lodge are under about three feet of water. At 29 feet, water will likely begin making its way around the City of Frankenmuth levee and into downtown Frankenmuth, much like the early days of the community in the 1900s.

  The historic crest took place 40 years ago. On September 12, 1986, the waters peaked at 27.52 feet. On February 22, 1997, it reached 23.60 feet, followed by 23.37 feet on March 3, 1968. The 1997 mark is the last occurrence here since this week’s rainfall.

  Frankenmuth DPW Superintendent Kenton Scherzer reported no damage as of press time, besides the normal flood cleanup, mostly likely in Heritage and Memorial parks.

  “This flood fell just below action levels for the levee,” Scherzer said.

  The levee renovation began in mid-September 2019 and it took 20-plus months to complete. The nearly $10 million Cass River Levee Improvement Project was funded with participation by impacted property owners, the Frankenmuth Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and the city at-large......

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