UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – Crews and specialized dive teams worked through the weekend of April 18, 2026, to clear hazardous underwater debris from the Union Lake public access in Sherwood Township, preparing the site for its upcoming summer season.
Divers from Michigan and Indiana meticulously combed the lake bottom, recovering dangerous materials such as metal shards and boards filled with nails that were deposited during the devastating EF-3 tornado on March 6. To facilitate removal, larger boats and winches were used to pull heavy wreckage from the muck, while smaller items were brought to shore on pink floats for disposal in 40-yard dumpsters.
Officials emphasized that clearing the public access is a critical step toward ensuring safe recreational boating and protecting the Riley Dam downstream from potential damage. During the operations, crews also removed a temporary water curtain that had been installed to contain floating debris within the hardest hit coves.
Branch County Marine Patrol Sergeant Josh Vickers said that while the primary goal is to reopen the access in the coming weeks, the broader recovery effort continues as residents and volunteers work to rebuild the nearly 70 homes damaged or destroyed by the storm.
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