Bear Creek Lake Dam dam
Bear Creek Lake Dam
Bear Creek Lake Dam in Indiana is a state-regulated earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1939, this dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a structural height of 32 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 58 acre-feet. The dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a surface area of 6.4 acres for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Located in Brown County, Indiana, Bear Creek Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential with fair condition assessment. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and a valve outlet gate. The last inspection in July 2017 found the dam to be in fair condition, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, regular inspections are conducted every two years to ensure its safety and integrity.
Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Bear Creek Lake Dam is a vital resource for water supply and recreation in the area. With its picturesque setting along Bear Creek, this dam offers a scenic retreat for visitors to enjoy nature and engage in various water-based activities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Bear Creek Lake Dam are crucial to ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Creek Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 1,210 cfs | → |
| White River Near Centerton | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 3,580 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 5,910 cfs | → |
| Youngs Creek Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,430 cfs | → |
| White Lick Creek At Mooresville | 1,880 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Henderson Ford Boat Ramp
- East Stipp Road Monroe County
- Monroe County
- County Road 550 South 3427, Franklin
- South Mauxferry Road Johnson County
- River Road Johnson County
Campgrounds
- Oak Ridge Camping Area
- Mason Ridge Camping Area
- Morgan - Monroe State Forest
- Mason Ridge - Morgan Monroe State Forest
- Yellowwood State Forest
- Horseman's Camp
Track Bear Creek Lake 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 Creek Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bear Creek Lake 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 Creek Lake Dam.