New Commission members from Wyoming are Sam Lowham and Gordon Thornock.

Water Quality Report - Don Ostler
The water quality committee is still active and well. It met at the NPS Conference in September. The Cirrus contract has been completed. It compiles all TMDL information into a user-friendly database.
The Bear River Commission will once again apply for a grant from the EPA Watershed Initiative. Last years application was unsuccessful.

Utah State University’s emphasis on the Bear River
Dr. Fee Busby, Utah State University’s Dean of the School of Natural Resources, addressed the Bear River Commission. The goal of the USU Water Initiative is the establishment of a Laboratory Watershed. The Bear River Watershed within the Great Salt Lake Basin serves as a microcosm for many water resource, science and policy issues that confront the Western US The primary study effort will be on the Bear River Basin. Money from the Quinney Foundation will mainly support PhD grants to get more in depth studies. USU will become a major source of information and knowledge about this watershed.

PacifiCorp
Connely Baldwin was hired to eventually replace Carly Burton. Connely is a hydrologist from USU. Roger Rigby has replaced Claudia Conder as PacifiCorp’s Water Rights Administrator.

PacifiCorp has the same plans for lake operation in ‘04 as they did in 2003. If the lake is above 5904’ some allocation will be available. Money has been set aside for dredging if it is necessary and it will only be done if required.

Operation Committee Report
The Central Division presently has no water in storage. ie Bear Lake is at 5904 and therefore has no storage capacity.
The three states will try to coordinate when water measurements are taken to clarify the reach/gain calculations.
2003 was the first time “original compact storage” wasn’t allowed because of a call on the water. It was also the first time two states have had to split water.
There are 3 categories of water rights on reservoirs/water above Bear Lake. 1) Pre-compact rights that are administered by the individual states. 2) Compact rights that are given by the Bear River Compact. They cannot impair existing natural flow rights. 3) Amended compact rights that cannot be exercised when Bear Lake is below 5911’. Therefore, when the Lake is below 5911’, water rights revert to Compact and pre-Compact rights. When the April 28th regulation was called, water rights reverted to pre-compact rights and that triggered no upstream storage.
The three states will send the Commission letters requesting the approval of “transfers and unused storage”. The Upper Division will try to work with lower division water users.
The delivery schedule model was amended to allow for two transfers – one at the Soda golf course and the other from Soda to the Last Chance Canal.

Records and Public Involvement Committee
Jack Barnett has an extensive list of publications about the Bear River/Bear Lake and its history.
50% of the BRC budget is for stream gauging. The number of gauges has been severely reduced over the last several years. USGS does the gauging for the Commission 8 times per year. There will be a greater emphasis on summer gauging and less during winter.
The Bear River Water Quality Task Force will schedule 7 local meetings dealing with helping local ranchers and farmers find ways to improve the water quality.
The Bear River Commission will send out a press release dealing with pumping when Bear Lake is below 5904’.

Engineer Manager Report – Jack Barnett
Jody Williams of PacifiCorp is also compiling an extensive publications list.
Both Utah and Idaho now have Ground Water Management Plans for the Bear River Basin. The Commission will hold 2 public meetings about ground water management.
The Snake River Drainage is at the lowest level in recorded history. Consumptive use in that Basin is also at its highest level.
Utah has finished the land use study in the Bear River Basin

Next Bear River Commission meeting is April 20th, 2004