When was the old dam last above water?
Doug G, Thu Jun 14 2018, 11:46AM

I remember fishing off the old dam when I was a kid. I'm wondering what was the most recent time the old dam was showing out of the water?

(I could probably find this with google but this forum needs more activity )

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Socalman, Thu Jun 14 2018, 11:59PM

I am pretty sure portions of the old dam were visible prior to the winter season of 2016-17.

I too fished from the old dam as a kid in the late 1950s, early 60's.

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Doug G, Fri Jun 15 2018, 09:02PM

Thanks, I had no idea it might have been out of the water that recently. It was a strong drought though, and I haven't gotten up the hill in some years now. For a couple decades I made a 4th fireworks viewing pilgrimage up to the lake, but kids moved out of state and I'm not as mobile as I used to be.


Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Hooky Bobber, Tue Jun 19 2018, 07:04AM

1968 the top might of been above the water in the late 70s. I think the rock dam is about 20 lower than the new dam

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Van, Tue Jun 19 2018, 03:52PM

I've only been in Big Bear for 24 years and I've seen the top of the old dam at least a couple of times if not more.

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Doug G, Wed Jun 20 2018, 06:21PM

Was it out of the water far enough that all the fishermen lined up on it, like a postcard picture I've seen? I was maybe 10 or so when we first moved up the hill in the later 60's, and I recall walking clear across the old dam. But weekends and evenings there were usually too many people fishing to get all the way across.


Re: When was the old dam last above water?
©ammy, Wed Jun 20 2018, 10:03PM

As I recall, a couple years ago, just the edges were above water. The middle, lower part (spillway?) was still under a few feet of water.
By this Fall, the old dam should be out of the water farther though.

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Doug G, Thu Jun 21 2018, 04:31PM

I was googling for the picture postcard I remembered seeing, didn't find it yet but did stumble across this collection of BB postcards: [Click Here]

[UPDATE] Found one showing what I remember as a kid: [Click Here]

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
kendallbear, Sat Dec 29 2018, 07:01PM

In 1955 - 1957 or so I would sit on the old rock dam and fish with my dad. The water was far, far below the top of the dam. In 1956 the lake level was down 51 feet. That was when we could walk from Pine Knot Landing to North Shore on dry land. This link shows all the historical lake levels. Quite interesting [Click Here]

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Doug G, Sun Dec 30 2018, 03:01PM


Thanks for the link. We may have crossed paths on the old dam. After a couple years driving up from LA and visiting our cabin by Baldwin Lake, we moved up the hill full time to BBC 1956-59, I would have been 10 in '56.

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
Hooky Bobber, Wed Feb 20 2019, 10:05AM

12/2018

Re: When was the old dam last above water?
RichardG, Mon Mar 04 2019, 10:40PM

There is some very interesting lake information on the Big Bear Municipal Water District website. For lake levels and information on how far down the lake level is from being full go to WWW.BBMWD. Then click on "Lake Info", Then click on "Historical Lake Level/precipitation" At this point you can click on any year for data for that year, or you can click on "Historical lake level Data"

If you click on Historical Lake Level Data there is a graph of the lake level and a chart that has the data from 1910. Yes 1910 that tells you how many feet down the lake level is from full. I believe whenever the lake level is down 15 feet or more the old dam is visible.