Bear Creek Lake dam
Bear Creek Lake
Bear Creek Lake is a private water resource located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, completed in 1964, stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 500 feet. It boasts a storage capacity of 3483 acre-feet and a surface area of 130 acres, making it a popular destination for water and climate enthusiasts in the area.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bear Creek Lake is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, signaling a need for ongoing risk management measures. In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and preparedness are currently unspecified, highlighting the importance of proactive planning and response protocols for the site.
The lake's association with the Bear Creek river and its picturesque location in Penn Forest Township make it a sought-after destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities. With a multi-arch earth dam structure and uncontrolled spillway, Bear Creek Lake offers a serene environment for visitors to enjoy water-based activities while also serving as a critical water resource for the region.
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 Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pohopoco Cr Bl Beltzville Dam Nr Parryville | 98 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Lehighton | 792 cfs | → |
| Pohopoco Creek At Kresgeville | 53 cfs | → |
| Aquashicola Creek At Palmerton | 63 cfs | → |
| Tobyhanna Creek Near Blakeslee | 133 cfs | → |
| Lehigh R Bl Francis E Walter Res Nr White Haven Pa | 404 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Creek Lake.
Boat launches
- Pine Run
- Preachers Camp
- Mauch Chunk Lake Boat Launch A
- D&Amp;Amp;L Trail East Penn Township
- Mauch Chunk Boat Launch
- Lehigh Gap Access
Track Bear Creek Lake 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 Lake
Where does the data for Bear Creek Lake 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 Lake.