Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment dam
Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment
Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment, also known as Bear Creek Lake, is a federally owned structure located in Jefferson County, Colorado. Completed in 1979, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 65 feet with a hydraulic height of 60 feet, serving a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam has a storage capacity of 75,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 110 acres, with a normal storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet.
The dam, situated on Bear Creek, plays a crucial role in managing water levels and reducing flood risks in the region. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected, with an emergency action plan in place to address any potential risks. The US Army Corps of Engineers continually monitors and manages these risks by prioritizing maintenance and repairs, collaborating with local emergency managers, and updating emergency plans to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam.
As a key component of flood risk management in the area, Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment exemplifies the critical role that infrastructure plays in protecting communities from the impacts of severe weather events. With ongoing risk management measures in place, the dam serves as a vital resource for water resource and climate enthusiasts passionate about ensuring the resilience of our water infrastructure 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 - South Embankment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 1 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 19 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 30 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 54 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 113 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment.
Boat launches
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Idylease Campground
- Chief Ouray Group Site
Fishing spots
- Harriman Lake
- Blue Heron Lake
- Soda Lakes
- Hine Lake
- Cottonwood Park Lake (Kipling & Jewell)
- Bear Creek Ponds
Track Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment 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 - South Embankment
Where does the data for Bear Creek Dam - South Embankment 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 Dam - South Embankment.