Bear Gulch
Bear Gulch is an earth dam located in San Mateo County, California, built in 1896. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bear Gulch
The primary purpose of Bear Gulch 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 California Water Service Company (private). It impounds the Tr San Fran Bay near Menlo Park.
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 730 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 725 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1896, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/11/2025.
At 61 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 California 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 | California |
| County | San Mateo |
| Nearest City | Menlo Park |
| River/Stream | Tr San Fran Bay |
| Coordinates | 37.43150, -122.22760 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 730 ft |
| Year Completed | 1896 (130 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 725 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 725 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 69 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | California Water Service Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00658 |
| Federal ID | CA00658 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |