Manchester dam
Manchester
In the heart of Green Lake County, Wisconsin, lies the picturesque town of Manchester, home to a charming dam on the Grand River that dates back to 1914. This gravity dam stands at 16 feet in height and spans 250 feet in length, providing not only recreational opportunities but also hydroelectric power. With a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 50 acre-feet, the dam serves as a vital resource for the community.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Manchester dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, it undergoes inspections every 10 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's spillway, of the uncontrolled type, allows for a maximum discharge of 1085 cubic feet per second, providing protection against potential overflow events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Manchester's dam on the Grand River is not only a historical landmark but also a key piece of infrastructure that plays a crucial role in water management and recreational activities in the area. Its gravity design and concrete construction highlight the town's commitment to sustainable water resource management, making Manchester a must-visit destination for those interested in the intersection of water conservation, hydroelectric power, and community resilience.
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 Manchester -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White Creek @ Spring Grove Road Nr Green Lake | 6 cfs | → |
| Green Lake Inlet At Ct Highwy A Near Green Lake | 67 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Princeton | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Puchyan River Ds N. Lawson Drive Nr Green Lake | 115 cfs | → |
| South Branch Rock River At Waupun | 104 cfs | → |
| West Branch Rock River @ State Hwy 49 Nr Waupun | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Manchester.
Boat launches
- Little Green Lake -- Kearley Bay Access
- Welk Road Markesan
- Lake Emily -- Boat Access
- Green Lake -- County Park Access (Dodge Memorial Park)
- Lyons Street 298, Village Of Marquette
- Charlevoix Street 198, Village Of Marquette
Campgrounds
- Camp Grow
- Derge Park
- Indian Trails Campground
- Crooked River Campground
- Veterans Memorial Field - Portage
- Astico County Park Campground
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Manchester 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 Manchester
Where does the data for Manchester 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 Low 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 Manchester.