Bear Creek Watershed Site 47 dam
Bear Creek Watershed Site 47
Bear Creek Watershed Site 47, located in Winneshiek County, Iowa, is a flood risk reduction structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 2006. This earth dam stands at 32 feet in height and spans 430 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 241 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.17 square miles. The dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along TR- South Bear Creek, contributing to the overall management of water resources in the area.
Managed by the Iowa DNR and meeting state regulatory standards, Bear Creek Watershed Site 47 has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While the structure is currently in a not-rated condition, it undergoes regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks. With its uncontrolled spillway type and rock-soil foundation, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding Highlandville community from potential flood events.
As a key component in the water resource infrastructure of the region, Bear Creek Watershed Site 47 provides valuable insights for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding how local governments and agencies collaborate to manage flood risk and protect communities. With its strategic location, design features, and state-regulated operation, this site exemplifies the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding against natural disasters and promoting sustainable water management practices in Iowa.
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 Watershed Site 47 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 613 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Decorah | 391 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 256 cfs | → |
| Turkey River At Spillville | 109 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 182 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 829 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek Watershed Site 47.
Boat launches
- Lycurgus Road Allamakee County
- Great River Rd Allamakee County
- Winneshiek County
- Voyageur Highway Houston County
- Millstone Landing Houston County
- Army Road Boat Landing
Campgrounds
- Highland General Store & Campground
- Trollskogen City Park
- Pulpit Rock Campground
- Sampson Springs Campground
- Canoe Landing
- Camper Cabin
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
Track Bear Creek Watershed Site 47 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 Watershed Site 47
Where does the data for Bear Creek Watershed Site 47 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 Watershed Site 47.