Bear Creek Dam
Bear Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Wise County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bear Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Creek Dam 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 Town Of Wise (local government). It impounds the Tr-bear Creek.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,155 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles.
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 11/09/2022.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 Virginia 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 | Virginia |
| County | Wise |
| River/Stream | Tr-bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.96760, -82.53370 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,155 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,155 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 576 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Wise |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA195011 |
| Federal ID | VA195011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |