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. Big Bear has become a Largemouth lake. It winds through narrow canyons and across rolling farmland so there are both deep channels and wide shallow flats. Cover in the lake is plentiful.
Bear Creek is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,053. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 1,021. [1]