Splash Information from Bear Lake Watch Directors

 Hey Bear Lakers,

 I'm hearing all kinds of hubbub on the grapevine, so I thought I'd chime with original resources and food for thought regarding the Utah legislature’s policy changes and budgets relating to water and Lakes. (see budget information below) There has been a lot in the news about our sister lakes in Utah.

We see it this way...

 The good news is the State of Utah is finally having a wave of consciousness, waking up to the fact that it has to take care of its lakes. Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake are in crisis. How did we get here?

One of our biggest problems of the past is they/we only have policy for regulating ‘uses’ of the separate "parts" of our natural world. We ‘regulated” the siphoning off of the good clean water into pipes, but ignored the effects to what was left behind – a breakdown of the form and functions of the whole. Leaving behind lakes without with water necessary for “dilution of the pollution” Additionally, without a policy for “Clean-up on isle 3” and without their natural interactions with water, our lakebeds are left to become hot beds for invading vegetation –creating and feeding a vicious cycle of lake degradation.

 Now, with a new wave of consciousness, they/we have to try to put it all together again. It is awesome to see that tides can change as the result of years of hard work by many interests. Will it work? I guess time, a lot of money and a plethora of new laws will tell.

 It is good news that Bear Lake is not in crisis, but bad news that it is still bearing the scars and facing the threats of the same over-use, neglectful policies and the vicious cycle of lake degradation. As Bear Lakers, we too need to get on board and ride that wave of consciousness to better days for Bear Lake as well. We need to ensure that recent changes intended to help our sister lakes will also be beneficial to Bear Lake.

 Bear Lake was not ignored in the dividing the pot of gold. With $60 million probably coming this way, we have faith, hopefully not displaced, that a Marina expansion program will include an honest look at the problems, need and the possible solutions. Being a government project it will include proper structural engineering, environmental studies, economic considerations and more. A lot for folks to follow.

 Claudia Cottle

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As the legislative session near its end ..

Executive Appropriation Committee released its 2022 Recommends for the Utah State Budget.

It is an official statement that includes some Budget Highlights. This is not final yet, but probably very close. The recommendations are selected from requests and priorities from the subcommittees, like Natural resources, Education etc.

A few highlights are listed here, but you should read it for yourself..............

A Salt Lake Tribune article INCORRECTLY reported -

"$30 million for Bear Lake preservation" oops! it's the recommendation for UTAH LAKE.  

I wish they were right!

              (I guess the press can have Bear Lake on the brain just like we do! :)

 Last Friday the Utah legislature released the 2022 Executive Appropriation Committee Recommends Utah State Budget. It is an official statement that included some Budget Highlights. This is not final yet, but probably very close. A few highlights are listed here, but you should read it for yourself. (don’t trust the press to get it right) A Salt Lake Tribune article INCORRECTLY reported - $30 million for Bear Lake preservation – it is recommended for UTAH LAKE.   I wish they were right!