Wed. April 11, 2007
At Bridgerland Applied Technology
Logan, UT

Meeting called to order by Connely Baldwin, this year’s chairperson.

Introductions were made. Dennis Strong, Director of Utah Water Resources, was in attendance.

Review of the Bear Lake Preservation Advisory Committee goals – Connely Baldwin
Two of the committee’s goals, Conservation and Cooperation to reduce litigation, have been prominent this last year and will continue to play a major role in this year’s irrigation season.

Water Supply - Connely Baldwin and Carly Burton

The snow pack is much less than in 2006 or 2005 or even in 2004. All of the lower elevation snow has melted. As of April 1st, the snow water equivalent is the same as it was in 2004. Only 1977 was worse.

2007 Allocation
The lake is now at 5912.05 ft. The peak elevation historically is in mid June. This year the lake elevation will probably peak in mid May.
The forecasts for the stream flows are also very low – in the 32% range. When there are lower forecast flows at the Rainbow inlet to Mud Lake, there is usually a lower percentage of water stored in the lake. Conversely, when the forecast flows at Rainbow are average (230,000 acre feet) about 80% gets stored in the lake.

Estimated Max Spring Elevation of Bear Lake is 5912.6 ft.
2007 Irrigation Allocation is 218,000 acre feet or 94.8% of normal. Of that amount, the Bear River Water Users are allocated 201,000 AF and the small pumpers from Idaho and Utah are allocated 17,000 AF. Transportation losses reduce those amounts by the time the water reaches the head gates or pumps.

Conservation and careful water management saved over 150,000 AF last year. That water was left in Bear Lake. Coupled with the water saved in 2005, the 2007 allocation nearly equals the water saved in the last two years. Conservation and a lot of help from Mother Nature will be key to making it through the year.

The earliest the outlet canal has been opened was on April 23rd. This is different than the date when pumping begins. It signifies the date when Bear River water flows through Mud Lake for natural flow rights downstream instead of being stored in the lake. This year may see a new record.

At Bear Lake – Dave Cottle
Phragmities continues to be a threat on the shorelines of Bear Lake. It has spread rapidly and now can be found along the west side and south end. Kelly Allen of Utah State Lands has done genetic testing to confirm the Phragmities is of the invasive kind and plans treatments on the Utah half of the lake. Bear Lake Watch is investigating the formation of a Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA)specifically for Bear Lake and the Wildlife Refuge. Initial discussions have been held with Utah and Idaho State Lands, Utah and Idaho State Parks, the Wildlife Refuge and PacifiCorp. Discussion still needs to be held with Bear Lake and Rich county Commissioners and with Highlands CWMA which covers a 5 county area that includes the lake. Without trying to reinvent the wheel, forming a CWMA specific to Bear Lake does have advantages.

New invasive species have been identified by Utah that potentially threaten Bear Lake. They are the Quagga Mussel and the Zebra Mussel. Scott Tolentino and Brian House have been through a training session about the two mussels. Since the mussels have been found in Lake Meade, the concern is that they will spread to Lake Powell and Bear Lake. They attach themselves to boats, flip flops or anything else and can survive out of water for up to 45 days. The young can even live in the cooling systems of boats for long time periods. It is uncertain if these invasives can actually live in the Bear Lake environment. There will be a public awareness campaign by Utah State Parks to educate the boating and recreational public.

Bear Lake Watch, in partnership with Utah State Parks and Rich County, will automate the lake elevation reading and provide weather information by installing equipment at the Utah Marina. The project will provide real-time lake elevation (unofficial, of course!), water temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, etc. for the general public via the Bear Lake Watch website and a new LCD display at the entrance to the Marina. The project should be installed in time for the summer season at the lake.

Bear River Water Users Association – Carly Burton
Gale Moeser is President and Charles Holmgren is Vice President. BRWUA will work with both small pumper groups and offered them membership in BRWUA. They are still committed to working with PacifiCorp and Bear Lake Watch to review water permits and protest if necessary (no new depletion).

Water Mitigation Workshop – Claudia Cottle
PacifiCorp, BRWUA and Bear Lake Watch together with IDWR and Utah Water Rights, hosted a Water Mitigation Workshop in January. It was attended by lawyers, water engineers, developers, Planning & Zoning commissions, County Commissioners, irrigation companies and landowners. The group of nearly 100 heard the history of why a mitigation plan is needed, a step by step explanation of the process and had plenty of time for questions. The goal was to explain the process to everyone, eliminate the delays for developers and reduce the protests and legal expenses. The presentations can be found at www.bearlakewatch.com.

Other things in the Bear River Basin – Claudia Cottle

Utah State University and Idaho DEQ have partnered for a water quality study in Mud Lake. The study will provide continuous real time data on turbidity at four locations in Mud Lake. This data will be supplemented by full water quality samples taken every two weeks. Correlating the two will produce a full length motion picture of the water quality as it enters Mud Lake, enters Bear Lake, leaves Bear Lake and leaves Mud Lake.

That study compliments a study implemented through the Bear River Water Quality Task Force that will sample the water quality in the Bear River Basin 4 times a year at 21 sites over a 5 year period.

A Closing Comment – Dennis Strong
It’s nice to see a system of people working together. It pays to be patient and work together, but praying for rain is not a bad idea either!

Next year's meeting is April 10th, 1007