Bear Gulch Dam dam
Bear Gulch Dam
Bear Gulch Dam, located in Hollister, California, was completed in 1934 and is owned by the National Park Service. This gravity dam stands at 44 feet tall and spans 75 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 38 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, serving as a crucial infrastructure for managing water resources in the area.
Despite not being regulated by the state, Bear Gulch Dam is inspected by the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure its safety and functionality. With a hazard potential rated as high, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, indicating a need for further evaluation. Emergency action plans have been prepared, with the last revision in September 2017, highlighting the importance of preparedness for any potential risks or incidents.
Bear Gulch Dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding community from flood risks, showcasing the collaborative efforts between federal agencies like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of this infrastructure is essential for ensuring the sustainable management of water systems 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 Gulch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas R A Soledad Ca | 214 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Bl Reliz C Nr Soledad Ca | · | → |
| San Benito R Nr Willow Creek School Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Nr Soledad Ca | 37 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C Bl Bitterwater C Nr King City Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Salinas R Nr Chualar Ca | 97 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Gulch Dam.
Campgrounds
- San Lorenzo
- Piney Creek
- Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground (Free, Blm)
- Lower Piney Camp
- Upper Piney Camp
- Jerky Camp
Fishing spots
- San Justo Reservoir
- Los Banos Reservoir
- El Estero
- San Luis Reservoir
- O&Acute;Neill Forebay
- Oneill Forebay
Paddle runs
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
- 0.25 Milesupstram Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge To 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge
- Headwaters To Sportsman's Club
- San Benito River
- Larious Creek
More reservoirs
Track Bear Gulch Dam 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 Gulch Dam
Where does the data for Bear Gulch Dam 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 Bear Gulch Dam.