Big Bear Lake Dam
Big Bear Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Scioto County, Ohio, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Big Bear Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Big Bear Lake 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 James Robin Waddell;m., B., J., Mcfarland (private). It impounds the Bear Creek near Lucasville.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 926 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/22/2022.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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 Ohio 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 | Ohio |
| County | Scioto |
| Nearest City | Lucasville |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.92278, -83.04889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 926 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 926 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 382 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,662 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | James Robin Waddell;M., B., J., McFarland |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00291 |
| Federal ID | OH00291 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |