The Rock Dam at Big Bear Lake

On a cold spring morning in 1883, with fresh snow still on the ground, Frank Elwood Brown rode into Big Bear valley looking for a relaible source of water for Redlands citrus farmers. As he explored the valley, he knew his search was over. Returning to Redlands, he organized a group of wealthy Redlands farmers and formed the "Bear Valley Land and Water Co." They immediately began buying up land and water rights in Bear Valley. Construction started in July. Because of financial considerations, it was decided that a single arch rock dam would be built, instead of a convential gravity dam. Granite blocks, weighing two to three tons each, would be cut from the surrounding hillsides by hand, without the use of explosives, to be used as construction material. The winter snows of 1883 brought construction to a halt.
In June of 1884 work commenced again, and by that November, the dam reached its final height of 52 feet. The rock dam was only 20 feet wide at the bottom and 3 feet wide at the top. There was a very real concern as to whether or not a dam this thin could hold back the enormous pressure of a five mile long lake. Its strength would come from the design and shape of its arch. The workers went home for the winter. As soon as possible, Brown rode into Bear Valley the following sprng. He was greeted by the sight of a new lake where lush green meadows and tall pine forests had sat, just one year earlier. The next year, on July 10, 1885, the flood gates were opened and water started flowing down Bear Creek to grateful Redlands farmers. The new lake drowned over 9,000 trees, but Frank Brown had created the largest man made lake in the world, at a cost of $75,000. The narrow dam was safe and would continue to hold strong for over 20 years. Located 50 yards east of the current dam, it still stands today, usually under about 20 feet of water.
On to The Eastwood Dam at Big Bear Lake