Lake Manatee Dam
Lake Manatee Dam is an earth dam located in Manatee County, Florida, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Manatee Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Manatee Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Manatee County (local government). It impounds the Manatee River near Bradenton.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 4,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,000 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 46,600 acre-feet. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/29/2014. That was 11 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Florida dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Manatee |
| Nearest City | Bradenton |
| River/Stream | Manatee River |
| Coordinates | 27.49370, -82.35470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 46,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 46,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,000 acres |
| Max Discharge | 16,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | MANATEE COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/29/2014 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00280 |
| Federal ID | FL00280 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |