Bear Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Santa Rosa County, Florida, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 735 ft long, taller than 72% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bear Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Florida Freshwater Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (state). It impounds the Bear Creek near Munson.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 735 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 106 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,023 acre-feet. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/31/2024.
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Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Santa Rosa |
| Nearest City | Munson |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.87000, -86.83000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 735 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,023 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,023 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 924 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 106 acres |
| Max Discharge | 147 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Florida Freshwater Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00066 |
| Federal ID | FL00066 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |