Introductions were made

A discussion of the Committee’s structure and how the organization should operate followed.
Merlin Olsen noted that one of the goals of the Preservation Advisory Committee is to provide a forum for all interested parties to discuss any matter pertaining to Bear Lake, to look for solutions and resolve differences. It was decided to use an open, informal format.

It was agreed that the BLPAC meeting was to be held at least annually and that the following years meeting would be set at the current meeting. Some factors to consider were the April 10th date for setting the annual Irrigation Allocation and the general lake level. eg. Later for low lake levels to get a better forecast or earlier if considering pumping for possible downstream flooding.
Next years BLPAC meeting will be April 6th 2005.

The three co-chair format was retained. Co-chairs are: PacifiCorp - Connely Baldwin, Bear Lake group – Claudia Cottle and Irrigators – either Marcus Gibbs or Charles Holmgren were volunteered since neither were present to defend themselves. Dan Davidson represented the Irrigation interests. The responsibility for organizing the meetings will rotate with PacifiCorp (Connely Baldwin) for 2004, the Bear Lake group for 2005 and the Irrigators for 2006.

The goals of the Preservation Advisory Committee were read and a discussion of several goals followed.
Regarding the single allocation model, Jack Barnett noted that:
WY is not part of the model and while it doesn’t affect the allocations it does effect the runoff forecasts. We need more information above Stewart Dam and should “take the mystery out of what happens above the Dam.”
There is a need for more real time flow data on the Upper Division and Upper Division evaluations of gaining or loosing river sections . There is a USU grad student conducting research on losses in the Upper Division.
There was a considerable discussion on the diversions in the Upper Division. It was generally agreed that more information is needed on why, when and how water is diverted.
The Chapman Canal passing under Hwy 16 by Wyoming Downs North of Evanston goes to storage in the Neponset Reservoir on Desert Land & Livestock property.
No one above Stewart Dam is part of the Settlement Agreement so WY operates under Wyoming law until a water emergency is declared.

A change in the methodology used in forecasting stream flows should give us more realistic data. Tom Perkins, NRCS in Portland, works monthly with Randy Julander in Salt Lake using snow pack data to arrive at stream flow forecasts. They had been using naturalized flows at Stewart Dam which did not account for upstream diversions. They will now use observed flows.

Water conservation was discussed.
Is any water being taken illegally? Jack Barnett answered that there was no illegal use of water from the River or if there is it was a very small amount.

Merlin asked if the Committee could have any impact on the conservation of water by the Irrigators. There was a discussion on reductions or savings that could be used in future times of need. What can we (as a group) do to protect some of the water when it gets back into the lake?

David Cottle will work with PacifiCorp hydrologists and Jack Barnett to compile comparable data showing how much water the Bear Lake Settlement Agreement has saved and the additional amounts that the Irrigation Companies have voluntarily not used. It was guestimated that enough water was conserved so that last years irrigation season was possible.

As a group, we must look ahead to see what conservation efforts are possible. Such things as lining canals to reduce transportation losses, pursuing additional storage, automating flow data and diversions and determining better timing of deliveries are a few of the areas we should pursue as a group. The co-chairs will form a smaller subcommittee to redefine our goals.

Exhibit A of the Amended Settlement Agreement was discussed.

Carly Burton - The evaporation number is an estimate based on PacifiCorp observed history. It uses the pan method which uses daily readings entered into a formula. Although there are newer methods, none of them relate to open water. The question raised was should the 125,000 acre ft. number be the same for different lake surface areas as the lake level changes. Since evaporation depends upon so many variables, PacifiCorp is comfortable with the 125,000 estimate.

The Bear Lake capacity table (Column B) appears to have discrepancies in that as lake elevation decreases, each foot of water has a different volume. In an effort to be as accurate as possible and to be dealing with realistic volumes, PacifiCorp hydrologists will check their original lake volume data (capacity curve). It may be desirable to get a more up to date, satellite mapped data.

The Est. Annual Allocation (Column E and footnote 5) is derived by using the Estimated Lake Elevation rounded to the nearest tenth and then interpolate the Estimated Storage Water Available.

Other discussions and data.

No dredging is planned by PacifiCorp for this year.

This years Irrigation Allocation is 85,000 acre feet. That is about ½ of last years allocation. There will be a press release and letters to the canal companies.

Due to the difference in elevation between the lake and the outlet canal, the Lifton pumps can only pump at 1100 to 1200 cfs when the lake is at 5905.50 ft. This rate may decrease to about 500 cfs as the lake drops. At 1000 cfs the Irrigators have about 45 days of water. At 500 cfs that will be spread out over 90 days.

There are possible conflicts this summer if a water emergency is declared in the Lower Division and upstream junior water rights are shut off but later ground water rights are still irrigating.

PacifiCorp, the Irrigators and Bear Lake Watch will still protest new water applications. Vista Grande application was discussed. PacifiCorp sent them a letter agreeing to one extension.

In the past, PacifiCorp has started water releases from Bear Lake based on conditions at Cutler Reservoir. Since the supply is so tight this year, PacifiCorp will hold meetings with the Canal Companies to see how they want to take their water and if a new method can be used to establish when pumping begins. PacifiCorp will send a letter to Will Atkins on how water is to be divided.

The Amended Bear Lake Settlement Agreement will be included in the minutes of the Bear River Commission meeting next week.

The BLPAC will suggest that the Commission help sponsor a Bear Lake Water Quality Symposium to be held this Fall.

A Fall meeting of BLPAC will be determined at a later date by the co-chairs.