Bear Creek 3 dam
Bear Creek 3
Bear Creek 3 is a crucial water supply infrastructure located in the city of Drain, Oregon, and serves as a primary source of water for the region. This earth dam, completed in 1973, stands at a height of 55 feet and has a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 300 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 2750 cubic feet per second, Bear Creek 3 plays a vital role in managing water resources in Douglas County.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Bear Creek 3 has been assessed to have a fair condition but a high hazard potential. The dam has a spillway type of slide gate and outlet gates in the form of a sluice gate. The last inspection in August 2020 revealed the dam to be in satisfactory condition, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safety and effectiveness. With its strategic location on Bear Creek and its pivotal role in water supply, Bear Creek 3 stands as a critical piece of infrastructure for the community and the environment.
Highlighted by its storage capacity, hydraulic height, and structural design, Bear Creek 3 is a testament to the engineering expertise and environmental stewardship that go into managing water resources and mitigating climate-related risks. With its history of serving the region since the 1970s and its ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam exemplifies the intersection of water supply management, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the significance of Bear Creek 3 lies not just in its physical presence but in its enduring impact on the community and the environment it serves.
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 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Umpqua River Near Elkton | 2,000 cfs | → |
| Little Wolf Creek Near Tyee | 4 cfs | → |
| Coast Fork Willamette R Blw Cottage Grove Dam | 76 cfs | → |
| Row River Near Cottage Grove | 190 cfs | → |
| North Umpqua River At Winchester | 1,450 cfs | → |
| Row River Above Pitcher Creek Near | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek 3.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Eagleview Group Site
- Tyee - Sutherlin
- Pass Creek County Park
- Tyee Recreation Site
- Primitive - Cottage Grove Lake
- Pine Meadows- Cottage Grove Lake
Paddle runs
- Siuslaw River Seg B
- Confluence Of North And South Forks To Headwaters Of North Fork
- Siuslaw Falls To Confluence Of North And South Forks
- Confluence Of North And South Forks To Headwaters Of South Fork
- Clay Creek Campground To Siuslaw Falls
- Wildcat Creek Launch Site To Clay Creek Campground
Track Bear Creek 3 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 3
Where does the data for Bear Creek 3 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 3.