MARQUETTE -- Work has stopped on the Tourist Lake Dam in Marquette this weekend, but that doesn't mean residents and tourists can't enjoy the lake the dam has created.
Crews are taking the holiday weekend off and will resume work on July 11. They currently have stopped the flow of the river into the main channel, and once they return to work, they will begin pouring cement for the new dam.
Meanwhile, the backed up water had raised the level of the lake about nine feet since the coffer dam was installed. Though it may not be ideal for swimming, the area has already seen many kayaks and canoes, along with some wildlife not found in the area in almost a decade.
"The river rose up about nine feet before it started spilling over the flood gates, and so next to the coffer dam is fairly deep, and as you get further to the west, it tends to shallow out a little more," said Project Manager Eric Booth.
Crews will work until August when they will take another break to let temperatures cool.
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