Bear Creek 3
Bear Creek 3 is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Oregon, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bear Creek 3
The primary purpose of Bear Creek 3 is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Drain (local government). It impounds the Bear Creek near Drain.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/26/2020.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 Oregon 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 | Oregon |
| County | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Drain |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.61998, -123.37279 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,750 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF DRAIN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00614 |
| Federal ID | OR00614 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |