Bear Lake State Parks Report 2019

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  December 4, 2019.  Richard Droesbeke, State Parks, gave County Commissioners the 2019 Park Review. Visitations to the Utah part of the lake in the State Parks were up by 45,000 from FY 2018.    A total 383,000 people visited this year.  (As a comparison in 2011, there were 234,000 visitors.) Idaho visitations were also up, so there were a lot of people using the facilities and the lake.   Direct revenue to Utah was $1.5 million, $130,000 more profit this year than last year.  Of that 38% was camping, 25% slip rental, 26% day use, 11% permits and concession royalty.

Activities in 2019:

• 10^th Annual Cisco Disco and Bear Lake Monster Plunge.   This year there were 176 plungers and it is growing every year. 
• 8^th Annual Swim Across Bear Lake. This year 46 people did it. 
• 19^th Raspberry Days Boat Light Parade filled the parking area with spectators
• Winterfest on the 25^th of January will have fireworks.

Nearly 40 Special Use Permits, family reunions and other events were held.

There are 140 people on the waiting list for a slip.  There are 360 slips now being used. A new marina new would fill up immediately.

Projects For Next Year:

• Four restrooms to be replaced in Rendezvous Beach.
• UDOT Recreation Hotspot funds of 5 million to reconstruct and make safer the entrance to marina will start mid to next summer.
• North Eden Improvements $2million.
• South Eden RV power connections.
• Replace three oldest vault toilet in Cisco Beach and add one new toilet in Rainbow Cove. 
• Added ten wooden shade shelters at Cisco  which were donated and now will put concrete pads under them.
• Obtained USACE beach maintenance/grooming permit for North Eden, Rendezvous Beach, and the north end of Rainbow Cove.  This means State Parks is  allowed to  do much more than before including in Rainbow Cove.
• Complete road and campsite realignment.

There were many days when the marina was packed and totally full.  On Labor Day weekend the Parks turned people away.  Commissioner Bill Cox  said that anytime it gets to 100 degrees in Wasatch Front then everyone comes to the lake.

Critical Issues:

• Need a full time maintenance position. These Parks are creating a lot of revenue and growing faster.
• Full time office manager/accountant.
• Placement of dumpsters is an issue for emptying by County Sanitation trucks.

The Marina:

• Parking Capacity
• Condition of main asphalt parking lot
• Marina Expansion
• Additional Restrooms

Rendezvous Beach:

• Day use parking capacity.
• Additional day use restroom.
• Renovation of Cottonwood Campground.

Eastside:

• More nights at or above capacity.
•  First Point parking issues.
•  Water and sewer development for future.
•   Large scale facility development at Rainbow Cove campground.

Winter Snowmobile trail Grooming:Access for year round logging operations.is needed. In Temple Canyon, this is still in negotiations.

The Commissioners suggested that since the EMT’s volunteer nearly full time all summer for these visitors it might be nice to give them free passes to the Parks.