Bear Creek dam
Bear Creek
Bear Creek in Clatsop, Oregon, is a gravity dam completed in 1953 with a primary purpose of water supply. The dam stands at a height of 90 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 700 acre-feet. The dam regulates the flow of Bear Creek, a 3.2 square mile drainage area, with a maximum discharge of 530 cubic feet per second.
Despite its critical role in water supply, Bear Creek Dam has a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its long-term safety and efficiency. The dam is owned by the local government and falls under state jurisdiction for regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in November 2021 revealed its poor condition, prompting further assessment and potential risk management measures to be considered.
Located in the scenic city of Svensen, Bear Creek Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the region. With its historical significance and crucial role in providing water supply, safeguarding the dam's integrity and improving its condition will be essential for ensuring the continued resilience of the water system in Clatsop County, Oregon.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naselle River Near Naselle | 99 cfs | → |
| Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Nr Quincy | 70,400 cfs | → |
| Nehalem River Near Vernonia | 51 cfs | → |
| Nehalem River Near Foss | 458 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chehalis River Near Wildwood | 56 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River At Castle Rock | 7,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek.
⚓ Boat launches
- Astor Drive Clatsop County
- Aldrich Point Boat Ramp
- 17th Street Transient Dock
- West Mooring Basin
- Kerry West Marina
- Lewis And Clark Trail Highway 54, Naselle
⛺ Campgrounds
- Nicoli Mnt Ohv ( Lookout Rock Quarry )
- Saddle Mountain Campground
- Saddle Mountain State Park
- Elochoman Slough Marina
- Skamokawa Vista City Park
- Fort Stevens State Park Campground
🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →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.