Bear Town Lake Dam dam
Bear Town Lake Dam
Bear Town Lake Dam in Geauga, Ohio, is a local government-owned structure regulated by the Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 21.5 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 141.7 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 11.4 acres. The dam, located in Springvalley near the Aurora Branch tributary, has a low hazard potential and was last assessed as being in satisfactory condition in May 2018.
Managed by the Buffalo District, Bear Town Lake Dam has a drainage area of 0.87 square miles and a normal storage level of 57 feet. Despite its low risk profile, the dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its ongoing safety and integrity. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1,721 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management while providing a recreational haven for locals and visitors alike. The dam's emergency action plan was last updated in June 2017, and it has been deemed to meet regulatory guidelines.
With a history of over 60 years, Bear Town Lake Dam continues to be a vital infrastructure for the community, offering both recreational opportunities and essential water management functions. Its location within a picturesque setting near the Aurora Branch tributary adds to its appeal for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Regular inspections, state regulation, and a low hazard potential ensure the safety and efficacy of this earth dam, serving as a model for sustainable water resource management in Ohio.
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 Town Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh | 229 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Tributary To Chagrin R At Pepper Pike Oh | 3 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| Tinkers Creek At Bedford Oh | 70 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 7 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh | 933 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Town Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Auburn Launch Ramp
- La Due Reservoir - Boat House
- Punderson State Park
- Eldon Russell Park
- Hudson Springs Park
- Lakeview Road Munson Township
Campgrounds
- Camp Site A
- Camp Site B
- Punderson State Park
- Camp Asbury
- Silver Springs - Stow
- Kool Lakes Family Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Bear Town Lake 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 Town Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bear Town Lake 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 Town Lake Dam.