Golden Bear Reservoir Dam dam
Golden Bear Reservoir Dam
Golden Bear Reservoir Dam, located in Dublin, Ohio, is a privately owned structure designed by Burgess and Niple, Ltd. The dam, completed in 1972, serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a storage capacity of 31 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.7 acres. Situated on a tributary to Deer Run, the dam stands at a height of 26.4 feet and has a length of 270 feet, offering a tranquil retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Although the dam's hazard potential is considered low, it has a poor condition assessment as of December 2020. The state of Ohio regulates, permits, inspects, and enforces the dam's operations, ensuring compliance with safety standards. Despite its condition, Golden Bear Reservoir Dam remains a popular spot for outdoor activities, attracting visitors to its picturesque surroundings and providing a recreational haven within the Delaware County region.
With its unique location and design, Golden Bear Reservoir Dam continues to be a notable landmark in the area, offering both relaxation and adventure opportunities for locals and visitors alike. As climate change impacts water resources around the world, the maintenance and upkeep of such structures are crucial for sustainable water management practices and the preservation of natural ecosystems.
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 Golden Bear Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Scioto River Below O Shaughnessy Dam Nr Dublin Oh | 728 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 144 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Bellepoint Oh | 134 cfs | → |
| Alum Creek At Africa Oh | 13 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At 5th Ave At Columbus Oh | 669 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River At J H Herrick Dr At Columbus Oh | 221 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Golden Bear Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Twin Lakes Boat Ramp
- Riverside Drive Concord Township
- Griggs Reservoir - Marina
- Alum Creek State Park - New Galena
- Berlin Township
- Alum Creek State Park - Cheshire
Campgrounds
Track Golden Bear Reservoir 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 Golden Bear Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Golden Bear Reservoir 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 Golden Bear Reservoir Dam.