Bear Creek
Bear Creek is an earth dam located in Jackson County, North Carolina, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bear Creek
The primary purpose of Bear Creek is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Duke Energy (public utility). It impounds the East Fork Tuckasegee River near Tuckasegee, Nc.
The dam stands 215 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 476 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 75 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/25/2022.
At 215 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 North Carolina 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 | North Carolina |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Tuckasegee, Nc |
| River/Stream | East Fork Tuckasegee River |
| Coordinates | 35.24140, -83.07240 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 215 ft |
| Dam Height | 215 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 34,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 476 acres |
| Drainage Area | 75 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 181,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Duke Energy |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00336 |
| Federal ID | NC00336 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |