{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} <!-- [[File:Salt Springs Reservoir, Lower Bear River Reservoir, and Mokelumne Peak.jpg|right|thumb|The Salt Springs Reservoir (below), Lower Bear River Reservoir (above left), and Bear River Reservoir (above center) are visible in aerial view from the south, with Mokelumne Peak in the Mokelumne Wilderness at the far right. A portion of Lake Tahoe is visible at the upper right.]] --> {{Infobox body of water | name = Bear River Dam | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = <!-- Images --> | image = Salt Springs Reservoir, Lower Bear River Reservoir, and Mokelumne Peak.jpg | alt = | caption = The Salt Springs Reservoir (below), Lower Bear River Reservoir (above left), and Bear River Reservoir (above center) are visible in aerial view from the south, with Mokelumne Peak in the Mokelumne Wilderness at the far right. A portion of Lake Tahoe is visible at the upper right. | image_bathymetry = | alt_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = <!-- Stats --> | location = Amador County, California | group = | coordinates = {{coord|38.5579|-120.2162|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:waterbody_region:US-CA_dim:1000}} | type = Reservoir | etymology = | part_of = | inflow = | rivers = | outflow = | oceans = | catchment = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | basin_countries = | agency = | designation = | date-built = {{year|1900}} | engineer = | date-flooded = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water --> | length = | width = | area = {{Convert|149|acres|abbr=on}} | depth = | max-depth = {{convert|83|ft|abbr=on}} | volume = {{Convert|6818|acre.ft|abbr=on}} | residence_time = | salinity = | shore = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | elevation = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | temperature_high = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | temperature_low = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | frozen = | islands = | islands_category = | sections = | trenches = | benches = | cities = <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = California | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of lake in California. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }}
'''Bear River Dam''' (National ID # CA00379, also known as the '''Upper Bear River Dam''') is a dam in Amador County, California,<ref name=dwr>{{Cite web|url=http://www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/Juris(A-G)1.pdf|title=Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (A-G)|accessdate=November 1, 2012|publisher=California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309153328/http://www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/Juris(A-G)1.pdf|archive-date=2012-03-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> due east of Sacramento.
The rockfill dam was constructed in {{start date and age|1900|p=y}} with a height of {{Convert|83|ft}}, and a length of {{Convert|748|ft}} at its crest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ce-npdp-serv2.stanford.edu/DamDirectory/DamDetail.jsp?npdp_id=CA00379 |title=Dam Name: Bear River |website=ce-npdp-serv2.stanford.edu |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212135519/http://ce-npdp-serv2.stanford.edu/DamDirectory/DamDetail.jsp?npdp_id=CA00379 |archive-date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It impounds the Bear River for hydroelectric power generation and municipal water supply. It is owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the largest private owner of hydroelectric facilities in the United States, making it one of the company's 174 dams.
The reservoir it creates, '''Bear River Reservoir''', has a normal water surface of {{Convert|149|acres}} and has a maximum capacity of {{Convert|6818|acre.ft}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://findlakes.com/bear_river_california~ca00379.htm |title=Bear River |access-date=2012-09-26 |archive-date=2012-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014013318/http://findlakes.com/bear_river_california~ca00379.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Recreation includes fishing, swimming, and camping,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bear River Group Campground |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018858.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126073546/http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018858.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 26, 2013 |publisher=USDA |date=2019}}</ref> however the Upper Bear River Reservoir can only be accessed by foot, and is mostly unused by the public.
The Lower Bear River Reservoir and its own dam lie immediately downstream and to the west, also owned by PG&E.
The dam is being examined as the upper pool in a 380–1,140 MW pumped-storage project with the Salt Springs Reservoir as the lower pool.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/10/ferc-seeks-input-on-app-for-1-140-mw-greengenstorage-pumped-storage-hydro-project.html |title=FERC Seeks Input on App for 1,140-MW GreenGenStorage Pumped Storage Hydro Project|date=11 October 2016 |publisher=|accessdate=October 14, 2016}}</ref>
== See also == *List of dams and reservoirs in California *List of lakes in California
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Dams completed in 1900 Category:Dams in California Category:Pacific Gas and Electric Company dams Category:Reservoirs in Amador County, California Category:Rock-filled dams Category:Reservoirs in California Category:Reservoirs in Northern California