Bear Canyon dam
Bear Canyon
Bear Canyon, located in Coconino County, Arizona, is a state-regulated fish and wildlife pond with a primary purpose of providing habitat for local wildlife. Built in 1929, this earth dam stands at a height of 50 feet and has a storage capacity of 1638 acre-feet. The dam, constructed with stone core and rock and soil foundations, spans a length of 345 feet and covers a surface area of 65 acres.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Bear Canyon Dam on Bear Creek serves as a recreational area for outdoor enthusiasts in the Winslow area. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not been rated for its condition as of the last inspection in 2012. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements, ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure for both wildlife and visitors alike.
Bear Canyon Dam's uncontrolled spillway and maximum discharge capacity of 445 cubic feet per second provide crucial flood control measures for the surrounding area. While the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, its strategic location and purpose make it a vital asset for water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Bear Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Verde R Div From East Clear Cr Nr Pine | 5 cfs | → |
| Chevelon Fork Below Wildcat Canyon | · | → |
| Tonto Creek Abv Gun Creek | 2 cfs | → |
| Jacks Canyon Cr Nr Winslow | · | → |
| East Verde River Near Childs | 0 cfs | → |
| West Clear Creek Near Camp Verde | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Canyon.
Campgrounds
- Bear Canyon Lake And Camping Area
- Promontory Pit Road Campground
- Fr 84 Camping Area
- Fr 169 Campground
- Fr 9350 Campground
- Fr 195 Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Below The Dam At Knoll Lake To Confluence With East Clear Creek
- One Mile Below Woods Canyon Lake Dam (Woods Canyon) To Confluence With Chevelon Canyon
- Christopher Creek
- Confluence Of Woods Canyon And Chevelon Creek To South End Of Chevelon Lake
More reservoirs
Track Bear Canyon 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 Bear Canyon
Where does the data for Bear Canyon 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 Bear Canyon.