Bear Creek Reservoir
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Fish and Fishing on
Bear Creek Reservoir
(Big Bear)
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Background: Bear Creek Reservoir, also known as Big Bear, was first impounded in 1969 mostly as a flood control reservoir and holds 670 acres of water at full pool. The lake was drained in 2005. Located approximately 20 miles SW of Russellville in Franklin County, it is one of four Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs operated by the Bear Creek Development Authority. The primary uses of this reservoir are flood control and recreation. There is no residential development of the shoreline on Bear Creek Reservoir. Camping and fishing provide the main recreational opportunities. Two public access areas (Piney Point and Horseshoe Bend) provide boat ramps, and one campground (Horseshoe Bend Campground) provides camping opportunities on Bear Creek Reservoir. A BCDA fishing permit ($3/day or $20/year) is required in addition to an Alabama state fishing license. Pre-impoundment topographic maps are available for Bear Creek Reservoir through the TVA.
Bear Creek Reservoir has fish consumption advisories due to mercury. Information on the consumption advisories may be found at the Alabama Department of Public Health Web site, www.adph.org. To answer questions, contact Dr. Neil Sass at nsass@adph.state.al.us.
The Fisheries Section's District I Supervisor can answer specific questions about Bear Creek Reservoir at keith.floyd@dcnr.alabama.gov.
Prepared by: Fisheries Section, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This site is presented for information only; the Fisheries Section cannot be responsible for the quality of information or services offered through linked sites, disclaimer. To have your site included, send your URL, email address, or telephone number to the Fisheries Web Master, doug.darr@dcnr.alabama.gov. The Fisheries Section reserves the right to select sites based on relevant and appropriate content, of interest to our viewers. If you discover errors in the content or links of this page, please contact Doug Darr. Thank you.
NOTE: To repair a leak in the dam, the TVA has Bear Creek Reservoir drawn-down to only a stream through 2006. This will profoundly effect the fish population as well as boating access to the reservoir. Please contact the BCDA office or the TVA for information regarding re-impoundment of the reservoir.
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