• 1993 On May 6th, a 75 year old dam at the North end of the lake, built by UP&L to contain the muddy spring runoff water of Bear River, collapses, releasing 25,000 acre ft. of water and decades of accumulated sediment from Mud Lake into Bear Lake. UP&L disclaims any responsibility and then refuses to scientifically assess the impact or restore the dam to its previous functionallity. Instead, the dam is rebuilt so that the silt of Mud Lake is flushed into Bear Lake instead of Mud Lake acting as a filter for the muddy spring runoff.

  In June, the Boulder CO. based Land and Water Fund (Law Fund) offered to provide pro bono representation for the citizens efforts to restore and protect Bear Lake. It also provided guideance for forming and incorporating Bear Lake Watch.

Aug. 6th - First meeting of Bear Lake Watch. The unaminous objective is to protect the lake and gain support for enforcement of citizen rights and natural resources laws.

• 1994 In April, a study of Bear Lake by Dr. David Budge titled "An Analysis of Beach and Biota Damage at Bear Lake" concludes "Bear Lake has been poisoned by calcium carbonate, plant and animal habitat have been destroyed by fluctuating water levels, and critical nutrients have been removed for the lake ecosystem.

  The Summer of 94 is one of the driest water years on record. Pumping contnues.

  In December, a law suit initiated by the Law Fund and Bear Lake Watch alleges illegal issuance of a permit to UP&L by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Specifically, the suit contends that the permit to UP&L violated the Clean Water Act, Section 404, and also violated the National Environemntal Protection Act (NEPA) because an environmental impact statement had not been accomplished before granting the permit.

• 1995 On April 10th, the Bear Lake Settlement Agreement was reached between Pacifcorp (formerly UP&L), the Bear River Irrigators, Bear Lake Watch and concerned Bear Lake citizens. In a nutshell, the mutual goals were:

  - promote water conservation and efficient use practices.
  - promote more reliable water supplies in Bear Lake and Bear River for all users.
  - promote soil and energy conservation and improved water quality.
  - pursue means other than litigation to resolve conflicts.
  - periodically review water allocation proposals.
  - promote the concept of a single allocation model for the administration of water on Bear River and Bear Lake.

The Settlement Agreement also formed the Bear Lake Preservation Advisory Committee and all parties agreed to operate the lake according to the Storage Allocation and Lake Recovery Plan.

In May the Bear Lake Preservation Advisory Committee held their first meeting.

• 1996 The first of three wet years. Through the conservation practices initiated with the Bear Lake Settlement Agreement, continued talks with irrigators and ranchers and a generous Mother Nature, the water level rises to 5922.69 ft.

• 1997 Bear Lake continues to rise. Improved water management practices is a dominant issue among all users. At the Bear Lake Preservation Advisory Committee meeting, the stated goals were "To promote water conservation and efficient use pracitices. . . . and to improve water quality."

  Bear Lake Watch initiates a ecosystem study of Bear Lake by Dr. Wayne Wurtsbaugh.

  In November, the Bear River Compact is amended. Prior compacts had never addressed environmental issues or the rights of citizens. A 4th standing committee with a member from each state, was established and assigned to water quality matters. The amended compact failed however, to define the terms "multiple purposes" and "public rights".

• 1998 The Wurtsbaugh study is completed and concludes "The water level fluctuations caused by Bear River diversions and withdrawals from Bear Lake probably cause more serious problems than does the nutrient loading. . . . (The lake ) should have come into equilibrium with the increased Bear River loading over 50 years ago." This differed from the conclusion of a previous 1972 study.

   

  Bear Lake Watch helps finance a study of the ongoing loading of sediments and pollutants into Bear Lake from the inflow through the UP&L floodgates. The study will be conducted under the direction of the Bear River Regional Commission by Dr. Vincent Lamarra of the Ecosystems Research Institute.

 

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