Bear Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, Virginia, built in 1939. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 180 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Creek Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Department of Conservation & Recreation - Division of State Parks (state). It impounds the Bear Creek.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 52 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,090 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/09/2018.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Cumberland |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.53240, -78.27630 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 508 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Department of Conservation & Recreation - Division of State Parks |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/09/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA049002 |
| Federal ID | VA049002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |