Bear Creek Dam
Bear Creek Dam is a buttress dam located in Jefferson County, New York, built in 1922. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bear Creek Dam
Bear Creek Dam is a dam in Jefferson, New York. The dam is owned by Katharine Tuliau (private). It impounds the Bear Creek near Pierrepont Manor.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 227 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 103 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/08/2025.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Pierrepont Manor |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.74000, -76.03972 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 227 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 103 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 103 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Katharine Tuliau |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01244 |
| Federal ID | NY01244 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |