Lower Bear dam
Lower Bear
Lower Bear is a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Pioneer, California, along the Bear River. Completed in 1952, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 245 feet and has a storage capacity of 52,025 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is to generate hydroelectric power, with a maximum discharge capacity of 22,210 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Lower Bear Dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources for safety and inspection. With a high hazard potential, the dam is classified as very high risk (1) and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 316 feet and is equipped with a Tainter (radial) gate for water release.
Despite its remote location in Amador County, Lower Bear Dam plays a crucial role in providing clean energy and water resource management in the region. Its presence highlights the intersection of water resources and climate considerations in sustaining hydroelectric infrastructure for the future.
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 Lower Bear -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca | 216 cfs | → |
| West Fork Carson River At Woodfords | 286 cfs | → |
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Up Truckee R A South Lake Tahoe Ca | 213 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Bear .
⚓ Boat launches
- Amador County
- Sly Park Road, Pollock Pines
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Forebay Road El Dorado County
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
- Summit Lake Trail Alpine County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Bear River South Shore Campground
- South Shore
- Pardoes Point
- Pardoes Point Campground
- Sugar Pine Point
- Sugar Pine Point Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Lower Bear River Reservoir
- Bear River Reservoir
- Salt Springs Reservoir
- Silver Lake (Kirkwood)
- Highland Creek
- Caples Lake
🛶 Paddle runs
- Boundary Of Mokelumne Archeologic Special Interest Area To Confluence With North Fork Mokelumne River
- Salt Springs Reservoir Dam To To A Point 1 Mile West Of Bear River Confluence
- Boundary Of Mokelumne Archeological Special Interest Area To Confluence With Mokelumne
- Headwater In Sec 29, T9n,R16e To Confluence With Cat Creek
- Boundary Of Mokelumne Archeological Special Interest Area To Confluence With North Fork Mokelumne
- Confluence With Cat Creek To One Mile East Of Pipi Campground
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Lower Bear 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 Lower Bear
Where does the data for Lower Bear 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 High 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 Lower Bear .