Cisco Sonar

Bear Lake Watch – Bear Lake Water Quality  

By Bryce Neilson

Many readers that have heard about Bear Lake Watch (BLW) may think it is an organization for lakeshore owners that only care about beaches and golf tournaments.  In reality, it is an organization made up of people of all backgrounds that have one objective, to keep Bear Lake Clean, Deep and Blue.  BLW is proactive by funding and coordinating research studies that help to understand and react to changes in Bear Lake.  Under the guidance of a scientific committee, funds generated by the Merlin Olsen Classic are used to study the lake.

In 1918, Bear Lake was impacted by diverting the Bear River into it for water storage for downstream uses.  The impacts of this action, which mixed river water with the lake water, needs to be monitored.  Scientific data describing the unique characteristics of this large, lake system and the influence of the diluting Bear River water are lacking.

Bear Lake Watch has recognized the value of obtaining limnological and climate data and has made a commitment to spearhead and jointly fund a project to collect this information.  Additional funding is supplied by the Divisions of Water Quality in Utah and Idaho, PacifiCorp and United States Geological Services (USGS) matching funds.  The USGS in Salt Lake City, UT is overseeing the collection and analysis of the information collected.  

A five-year project is currently occurring with sampling being conducted from two pontoon type platforms.  You may have seen these yellow floats at various locations around the lake. Onboard are instruments that collect various limnological parameters and weather conditions.  A probe is deployed that takes measurements at 3’  increments to the bottom and transmits real time data via a cell phone to the USGS.  

Because Bear Lake is so large it is necessary to document differences at various locations over the five-year period.   A control site will be sampled annually off North Eden where it is deep and lake currents collide.  Other yearly sites were off Gus Rich Point, the middle of the Idaho half of the lake and off Fish Haven.  Two more sites will be sampled. This will result with information on limnological data throughout the water column, weather conditions and improved models for the lake water budget and evaporation.  These data sets will be invaluable references as Bear Lake recreational uses, land practices and population continues to increase.

BLW is also overseeing projects that monitor the water flowing in at the causeway at the north end and monitoring lake elevations and weather at the Bear Lake State Park Marina.  If you want more information or want to support our efforts go to bearlakewatch.com or keepbearlakeblue.com.