Bear Lake Watch
General Membership Meeting
Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.
@ Harbor Village
The meeting was called to order by Dick Motta.
Dick welcomed everyone. He introduced each of the board members and
asked them to stand up.
Merlin Olsen thanked Dick for being president. He also thanked Dennis
Bullock for the free use of the room at Harbor Village.
Merlin introduced Ron Jensen as our representative at the Bear Lake
Regional Commission. His representation on the Commission has made a
difference. Although Bear Lake Watch has not always been real aggressive,
our representation at various meeting states that we are serious.
Merlin introduced Ted Schmidt and Bryce Nielson as new members of our
board.
Merlin presented shirts to some of our present and past board members.
Warren Lee received a shirt and Merlin stated that he has really made
a difference in the quality of the lake and in our organization. Jim
Kimbal was also given a Bear Lake Watch shirt and Merlin stated that
he has done so very much for BLW. It was noted that Lyle Tapper has
resigned from the board.
Bear Lake Watch 2003-2004 Financial Report - Carol Braun
| Income |
|
|
| |
Membership Dues and Donations |
$14,801 |
| |
Merchandise Sales |
$ 1,595 |
| |
Friends of Bear Lake |
$15,537 |
| |
Special Board Member Donations to cover salaries Ex. Dir by Olsen,
Motta, Cottle at $5,000 each |
$15,000 |
| Expenditures |
|
|
| |
Directors Salary |
$10,000 |
| |
Advertising |
$ 1,161 |
| |
Legal |
$ 1,930 |
| |
Administrative |
$ 493 |
Balance In Checking $34,404.56
(Plus last deposit of $2,930.00) (2004-2005 year)
BLW - Investment Account
last year $18,726.31
this year $19,061.44
Merlin stated that there is a potential for more legal
battles ahead of us. This will take money. We need to continue to set
aside money in case it is needed for the upcoming battles. Board members
are donating their time.
Election of Officers
Dick Strong made a motion to affirm the slate of officers and exchange
Merlin and Dick as President. It was voted on and passed.
Duncan King stated by acclamation the board of directors remain the
same - voted on and affirmed.
Merlin made the motion to have twenty members of the board of directors.
The by-laws would have to be changed. It was voted on and passed.
Merlin - we need to establish a scientific committee, a legal committee
and a financial committee.
Merlin introduced David and Claudia and noted that they are the best
things that have happened to Bear Lake Watch. They represent Bear Lake
Watch at meetings and have attended over 50 meetings this past year
and have put 15,000 miles on their car. We are fortunate to have David
and Claudia as the executive directors. We are paying them $20,000 per
year.
Lake levels and operations - David Cottle
The overall lake level has fallen again. This year the forecast high
was 5905.5. The lake peaked at 5905.72. Releases started April 17, 2004
but then were stopped for almost a month due to the wet weather. The
allocation of 85,000 acre feet is 1/2 of what the irrigators had last
year. It still may get to 5902.
Irrigators and PacifiCorp have weekly conference calls. We are included
in some of those. Our goal is to make them use their water efficiently.
No dredging is planned.
The Bear Lake Settlement Agreement has saved 5-6' of water
in the lake. Irrigators have also conserved which has helped.
Bryce Nielson - They are installing automatic remote controls
to give real time streamflow data in the Randolf area. This will also
be done in the rest of theBear River.There are potential savings in
water use.
David - The irrigation community is making a concerted
effort to use their water more wisely. Farmers are shifting to crops
that don't use as much water. Many didn’t plant or planted less
acreage and many changed their crops. The twice weekly conference call
have helped many farmers understand how much water they have left and
adjust how to use it.
Phil Olsen asked David about sprinkling versus flood irrigation.
David replied that they are shifting on their own. To switch to sprinkling
farmers can get 50% and sometimes 75% of the money that it costs to
convert through federal or state grants and loans. This will be the
year that makes everyone realize how important conserving really is.
Conrad Michaelson - Bear Lake County Commissioner
Under the Bear River Compact, there is 390,000 acre feet of remaining
storage in Utah and 125,000 acre feet of remaining storage in Idaho.
In the past, Love Bear Lake has asked the Corp.of Engineers to do a
comprehensive study upstream of Bear Lake on the Bear River for flood
control. The Corp.of Engineers needs to be pressured to initiate this
study. Conrad wants BLW to write letters to the Idaho and Utah legislators
to initiate this study.
Conrad stated that in Bear Lake County there will be no more development
until well water permits could be mitigated.
BLW will write letters of support of the study.
Membership and public relations - Claudia Cottle
We are well over 800 members. This number has helped to get us credit
and recognition. The t-shirts and signs have helped. Previously, in
the meetings BLW was often ignored.In the past 6 months that has changed.
At the USU Spring Run-off Conference, BLW was complimented and the benifits
of the Bear Lake Settlement Agreement were saluted.
The amended settlement agreement was signed in April.
We want everyone to take a sign and put it in your yard.
We will be at the Raspberry Days and we will have a booth. There will
be t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and tank tops for sale.
Fall Symposium - Merlin Olsen
Jim Kimbal made us all aware that we must have knowledge. BLW is in
the process, jointly with the irrigators and PacifiCorp, of putting
together a symposium to increase that knowledge. This is a legitimate
expense and BLW will get some help to offset the expenses. The dates
for this symposium are September 23, and 24, 2004 at the Canyon Cove
in Garden City, Utah.
Bryce Nielson stated that we hope to have people that want to learn
more about our lake. Things like evaporation. Evaporation is so important.
Bear Lake Regional Commission’s focus has been on water quality.
Bear Lake is so complex. This symposium will give us some basic information.
It will cost between $500.00 and $1000.00.
Beach clean-up - David Cottle
We discussed the beach clean-up program as it is now and how we want
to do it in the future. We could support the adopt-a-beach program.
We do need to fullfill this year's commitment. Biologically, we should
clean the eastside. Should we organize a community/Bear Lake Watch/public
works project to do a beach clean-up? We have three choices of how we
are going to do the clean-up in the future.
Option 1 - clean all three beaches under Adopt-a-beach
Option 2 - to do just the eastside under Adopt-a-beach
Option 3 - to do our own beach clean-up
We voted and decided on option 3. We will fulfill our commitment for
this year. For next year, we will do our own.
There is an antique boat show at the marina in Garden
City, Utah on September 10, 11, and 12, 2004.
We have two noxious weeds: Dyers Wode and Tamarask. The Dyer’s
Wode needs to be cleaned up and gotten rid of. The Tamarask is a real
threat to the lake. It kills all of the native plants and consumes a
lot of water.
West Nile Virus - Rich County has control birds that they are monitoring.
The Ravens, Crows, Blackbird, and Magpies will be first infected and
will act stupid. If you suspect something call the Bear River Health
Department.
State Lands Rules - Claudia Cottle
Pollution in and around the lake is our concern. BLW is concerned and
taking a stand on what needs to be done. Porta-potties have been added
and trash receptacles have been placed at various locations around the
accessible beaches - but not close to the waters edge where they will
be used. Rich County has put them out and will be emptying them. We
have offered to help with getting a grant or some other means to get
them on the beach and closer to ther water. The cleanliness or lack
of on the Idaho side - a comment was made that it is terrible. It needs
to be policed and they don’t have the funds to do so. The phone
numbers of the Rich Co. and Bear Lake Co. sherrifs are on you brochure
as is the number for the State Parks. We need to report every incident.
If we call or send an e-mail it is recorded. You could also take a picture
to record of their behavior.
State Law Changes - Claudia Cottle
Utah's Water Issues Task Force is comprised of Utah legislators. This
committee will be making recommendations to the state. How are they
going to handle irrigation water versus domestic water? 97% of the Bear
River water is used for irrigation. There is a big difference in the
amount of water irrigation uses versus homes.
Merlin Olsen dismissed the meeting.
Meeting was dismissed.
