Ford Manchester Dam
Ford Manchester Dam is a gravity dam located in Washtenaw County, Michigan, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ford Manchester Dam
The primary purpose of Ford Manchester Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Manchester (local government). It impounds the River Raisin near Manchester.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 810 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 730 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 149 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/07/2019.
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 Michigan 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 | Michigan |
| County | Washtenaw |
| Nearest City | Manchester |
| River/Stream | River Raisin |
| Coordinates | 42.14960, -84.02360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 810 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 730 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 730 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 149 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Manchester |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/07/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00391 |
| Federal ID | MI00391 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |