Bear Dam
Bear Dam is an earth dam located in Mariposa County, California, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bear Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Sacramento District (federal). It impounds the Bear Creek near Planada.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 1,830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 265 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/12/2021.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Mariposa |
| Nearest City | Planada |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.36834, -120.22801 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,723 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 265 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Sacramento District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/12/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10101 |
| Federal ID | CA10101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |