Ford Manchester Dam dam
Ford Manchester Dam
Ford Manchester Dam, located in Manchester, Michigan, is a gravity dam on the River Raisin with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1940, the dam stands at a height of 26.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 24.6 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, with a maximum storage of 730 acre-feet and a drainage area of 149 square miles. The dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
With a spillway width of 80 feet and a maximum discharge of 3000 cubic feet per second, Ford Manchester Dam poses a high hazard potential, although its condition is currently assessed as fair. The dam's risk assessment is classified as moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. Despite these challenges, the dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities for the community, serving as a popular destination for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. As climate change impacts water resources, the management and maintenance of dams like Ford Manchester Dam will become increasingly important to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Ford Manchester Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| River Raisin Near Manchester | 23 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Dexter | 67 cfs | → |
| Saline River Near Saline | 61 cfs | → |
| River Raisin Near Adrian | 231 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Ann Arbor | 408 cfs | → |
| Malletts Creek At Ann Arbor | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Manchester Dam.
Boat launches
- Bemis Road Bridgewater Township
- Wamplers Lake Road Cambridge Township
- Wamplers Lake Road 1280, Cambridge Township
- Us 12 9697, Cambridge Township
- Cedar Lake Road Sylvan Township
- Chelsea-Dexter Trail Lima Township
Campgrounds
- W. J. Hayes State Park
- Horsemen's Equestrian Campground
- Burns Cabins
- Sugarloaf Lake - Waterloo State Rec Area
- Green Lake - Waterloo State Rec Area
- Green Lake Rustic Campground
Track Ford Manchester Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Ford Manchester Dam
Where does the data for Ford Manchester Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Ford Manchester Dam.