Bear Creek Dam dam
Bear Creek Dam
Bear Creek Dam in Virginia, constructed in 1939, stands as a vital water resource for the Cumberland region. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam spans 180 feet in length and rises 32 feet high, providing a storage capacity of 1,090 acre-feet and serving as a scenic retreat covering 52 acres. Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam's condition is deemed satisfactory with a significant hazard potential, requiring regular inspections to ensure its safety.
Located along Bear Creek, this dam not only offers recreational opportunities but also plays a crucial role in managing water resources for the local community. With a drainage area of 6.5 square miles, the dam contributes to flood control and water supply management in the region. Despite its age, Bear Creek Dam continues to be regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities, ensuring its ongoing functionality and safety for both residents and the environment.
Bear Creek Dam's significance extends beyond its recreational benefits, serving as a testament to sustainable water resource management in Virginia. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, structures like Bear Creek Dam play a pivotal role in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the challenges posed by a changing climate. With its rich history and ongoing maintenance, Bear Creek Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of a changing climate landscape.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slate River Near Arvonia | 65 cfs | → |
| James River At Cartersville | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Farmville | 80 cfs | → |
| Holiday Creek Near Andersonville | 2 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Sandy River Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Mill Quarter Road 1384, Powhatan
- River Launch Road Powhatan County
- Mill Mount Trail Powhatan County
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake State Park
- Westview On The James
- Holliday Lake State Park
- Twin Lakes State Park
- James River State Park
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 Significant 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.