Upper Bear Creek Dam
Upper Bear Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Alabama, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Upper Bear Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Upper 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 Bear Creek near Bear Creek.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 1,515 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,470 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 113 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 01/27/2025.
At 85 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 | Marion |
| Nearest City | Bear Creek |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.27296, -87.69350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,515 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 37,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,470 acres |
| Drainage Area | 113 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 137,120 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL09301 |
| Federal ID | AL09301 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |