Little Bear Creek Dam
Little Bear Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Alabama, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Little Bear Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Little Bear Creek 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 Tva (federal). It impounds the Little Bear Creek near Jordans Mill.
The dam stands 89 feet tall and stretches 2,425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 52,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 61 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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 01/28/2025.
At 89 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 Alabama 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 | Alabama |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Jordans Mill |
| River/Stream | Little Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.45457, -87.97572 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 89 ft |
| Dam Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 52,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 52,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45,320 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 61 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 54,970 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL05903 |
| Federal ID | AL05903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |