Overview
Bear Creek Reservoir (also called Big Bear) is a roughly 670-acre flood-control and recreation lake on Bear Creek in Franklin County, about 20 miles southwest of Russellville in northwest Alabama. It was impounded in 1969 as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority Bear Creek Project and is operated with the Bear Creek Development Authority. The four-lake system also includes Upper Bear, Little Bear, and Cedar Creek reservoirs for flood reduction, water supply, and recreation; Bear Creek Dam itself does not generate hydropower.
With about 52 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline and no residential lakeside development, Bear Creek has a wild, scenic character. Flooded brush and flats between summer pool near 576 feet and winter pool near 566 feet above mean sea level create abundant cover, and the reservoir extends about 12 miles upstream from the dam.
Camping and fishing are the main draws, with public access at Piney Point and Horseshoe Bend campgrounds. Largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish are popular targets, and a BCDA use permit is required in addition to an Alabama fishing license. Fisheries are managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Bear Creek Floatway upstream is a well-known paddling run.
Water levels on Bear Creek Reservoir are managed by TVA on a seasonal guide curve, with a summer full pool near 576 feet above mean sea level, a winter pool near 566 feet, and flood storage extending toward the spillway crest around 602 feet. Elevations shift with rainfall and flood operations across the Bear Creek project, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, camping, and fishing.
Current Conditions
Bear Creek Reservoir is currently at full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.10 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.24 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Bear Creek Reservoir is a 670-acre reservoir on the Bear Creek managed by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).