Lake Manitou Dam

About Lake Manitou Dam

The primary purpose of Lake Manitou Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Rochester (local government). It impounds the Mill Creek.

The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 775 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,875 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 44 square miles. Completed in 1827, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/15/2020.

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