Bear Creek dam
Bear Creek
Bear Creek, a hydroelectric dam located in Tuckasegee, North Carolina, on the East Fork Tuckasegee River, stands as a vital water resource in Jackson County. Built in 1954 with a dam height of 215 feet and a storage capacity of 34,600 acre-feet, Bear Creek plays a crucial role in providing renewable energy and water supply to the region. With a controlled spillway width of 409 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 181,000 cubic feet per second, the dam is well-equipped to manage water flow and mitigate flood risks in the area.
Managed by a public utility agency and overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Bear Creek operates under high hazard potential due to its significant storage capacity and location. While the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, regular inspections by the regulatory agency ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its age, Bear Creek continues to contribute to the local economy and environment, reflecting a commitment to sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
As a key player in North Carolina's hydroelectric infrastructure, Bear Creek stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation efforts. With its high-risk potential and strategic location, the dam serves as a critical asset in ensuring water security and energy sustainability for the community. Moving forward, continued monitoring and maintenance will be essential to uphold the dam's operational efficiency and resilience in the face of changing environmental 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 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 647 cfs | → |
| W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood | 53 cfs | → |
| West Fork Pigeon River Near Retreat | 36 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 229 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek | 479 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek .
Boat launches
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Church Street Jackson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
Track Bear Creek 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
Where does the data for Bear Creek 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 .