Bear Creek Dam dam
Bear Creek Dam
Bear Creek Dam, located in Roscommon, Michigan, serves as a key recreational spot along Bear Creek. Built in 1951, this gravity dam stands at 9 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 8.1 feet and a length of 340 feet. With a storage capacity of 1300 acre-feet and a drainage area of 17.4 square miles, the dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and providing a surface area of 127 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Bear Creek Dam has a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, last inspected in June 2018. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a spillway width of 20 feet, and a maximum discharge of 530 cubic feet per second. While the dam poses a moderate risk level, risk management measures are in place to ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Bear Creek Dam showcases the intersection of human engineering and natural beauty, offering a peaceful retreat for visitors while also serving as a crucial element in water management and conservation efforts in the region. With its historical significance and recreational opportunities, Bear Creek Dam stands as a testament to the balance between human development and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 263 cfs | → |
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 125 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton | 370 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 347 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- East Houghton Lake Road 10191, Butterfield Township
- South Dyer Lake Drive 8089, Clam Union Township
- Houghton Lake -Sw, 20044 Acres, Roscommon County
- Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground
- Lake Township
- Lakewood Street Hayes Township
Campgrounds
- Dyer Lake - State Forest
- Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground
- Houghton Lake State Forest Campground
- Wilson State Park
- House Lake State Forest Campground
- Trout Lake State Forest Campground
Track Bear Creek 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 Dam
Where does the data for Bear Creek 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 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 Creek Dam.