Bear Lake Splashback

 

It's Wet But Where Is The Snow? November 30, 2025

If you're like me and look around and see no snow....and keep hearing that the ski resorts are delaying their opening....you start to wonder if it has ever been like this in the past. I was surprised to see the graph on the left, which is precipitation for Upper Bear Basin, and see we're at 95% of average. But the graph on the right, which is the snow water equivalent (SWE), confirms the look out the window....we're only 36% of average for SWE. This represents 1.1" of SWE. Only 2008 had a similar amount with 2000 having 1.2" SWE and 2022 having 1.4" SWE. So 2025 is starting off in a pretty unique spot. But it is early and if I look at the Jan to April period of each of the years mentioned above only 2022 ended the winter with below average SWE.

The NOAA Climate Prediction Center's forecast for December (below graph) suggests the Upper Bear Basin may be wetter than average but perhaps also warmer. This would suggest December will be similar to October and November.

However, NOAA has also indicated that La Nina will continue into the winter. La Nina typically leads to cooler and wetter conditions in the northern US. The graphs below reflect this forecast. Hopefully the Jan to March period will bring the snowpack back toward average. The soil moisture in the basin is 95% to 101% of average which is good for runoff and streamflow in the spring.

Finally, Bear Lake water level reached it's low point of 5915.07 the end of September, remained stable in October and finally in mid November has started to rise slightly. Typically the lake level rises about a foot during the winter months before the snowmelt. My fingers are crossed that La Nina delivers the snow. As always I want to thank the folks at NCRS, CBRFC, RMP and all the others who help me compile the Splashback. See you next year....water year that is!

BEAR LAKE WATER LEVEL November 30, 2025 5915.22 ft

*All Bear Lake Elevations are given in UP&L Datum 

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Town of Garden City Public Hearing

 

Amended Public Hearing

Notice Date & Time: 12/11/25 6:00 PM

Description/Agenda:

        1.	Roll Call

2.	Ordinance #25-17, An Ordinance Amending Short-term Rental Ordinance

3.	2025 Garden City Water Conservation Plan

4.     Garden City Privacy Policy

5.	Adjournment


					

Notice of Special Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this public hearing should notify the Garden City Office at (435) 946-2901, 69 N. Paradise Parkway, Garden City, Utah, on Monday through Friday, at least 3 working days prior to the public hearing. The office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Notice of Electronic or telephone participation:

Contact the Garden City Office 1 business day prior to the scheduled meeting for electronic participation information, 435-946-2901.

Other information:

Location:

69 N Paradise Parkway Bldg C, Garden City, 84028

Contact information:

Town Clerk , office@gardencityutah.gov,

Rich County Sheriff's Office - Total Incident Report

 12/02/25 

 Page: 1 

 Nature of Incident Total Incidents 

 Traffic Accident w/ Damage 6 

 Animal strays,dead,noise 2

 Agency Assistance 1 

 Citizen Assist 9 

 Motorist Assist 1 

 Attempt to Locate Vehicle 2 

 Child Abuse 1 

 Civil Dept. assist 4 

 Criminal History 9 

 Citizen Dispute 1 

 Family Dispute 1 

 Evading or Attempting to Evade 1 

 Vehicle Fire 1 

 Fraud 2 

 Litter/Pollution/Public Health 1 

 Lockout 1 

 Psychiatric/Suicide Attempt 1 

 Suspicious Incident 1 

 Theft 2 

 Traffic Hazard 2 

 Abandoned Vehicle 1 

 VIN Number Inspection 6 

 Welfare Check 2 

 Total Incidents for This Report: 58 

The Family Place-Location Logan Building

The Family Place Utah invites you to the Day of Giving on December 5th, offers Mental Health First Aid Training, and invites you to host a Holiday Giving Tree, with a presale event for royal attendees.

Note

• Attend the Day of Giving event to get free hot cocoa & cookies.
• Consider registering for the Mental Health First Aid Training. 
• Host a Starfish Holiday Giving Tree 
• Purchase Prince & Princess Party presale tickets 

What makes the December 2025 Full Moon Special?

 The December full Moon is a supermoon, the third in a series of three Consecutive supermoons in 2025. It will rise on the horizon December 4th and seem larger than normal. A supermoon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, called perigee.

December's full moon is called the Cold moon or the Long Night Moon. There are several other Native American names. In Europe, pagans called"Moon before Yule" in honor of the Yuletide festival celebrating the return of the sun.

Happy viewing!

It's coming! Get ready! Volunteer

 

Rich School District

Looking for a cook 

 Dec. 4th Thurs.

            RMS-Wrestling

                       GBB @ Cokeville

            RHS-BBB @ Malad

Dec. 5th Fri.

            RHS-Wrestling @ Salem Hills

                     GBB @ Mountain Crest

                    BBB @ Desert Peak

            RMS-GBB away

Dec. 6th Sat.

            RHS-Cheer Winter Classic @ Timp View

                     GBB @ North Summit

            RMS-Wrestling @ Jackson Hole

                       GBB @ home

Rich County

 

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING

DATE:  December 10, 2025

TIME:  1:00 p.m.

PLACE:  Rich County Courthouse

                 20 South Main

                 Randolph, UT 84064 

BY:  Rich County Commission

PURPOSE: To give all interested persons an opportunity to be heard for or against the estimates of revenue and expenditures for the 2026 General Fund Budget.

To amend the 2025 General Budget, if needed.

Rich County Commission Meeting Dec. 10th

Garden City Planning & Zoning

 

PUBLIC HEARING

The Garden City Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Garden City Lakeview Building located at 69 N. Paradise Parkway, Building C.

AGENDA 

1.      Roll Call

2.      Discussion of a Conditional Use Permit for the Marina Side KOA Managers House – Weston Heidzig

3.      Ordinance Discussion:

a.      Ordinance #25-16 – An Ordinance Adding Accessory Dwelling Units

4.      Adjournment

 

The public is invited to attend the meeting, listen by phone, or give written comments. The conference phone number is #1-866-347-5097.

There is a 2-minute limit on those commenting during the meeting.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify the Garden City Office at (435) 946-2901 on Mondays through Fridays, at least 3 working days before the meeting.  The office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Posted on this 21st day of November 2025.

Bear Lake State Park

 14° F

High Temp:34° F

Water Temp:49.5° F

Water Level:5915.25′

Laketown Planning and Zonning

 PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Laketown Planning and Zoning will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10, 2025 at 8:00pm at the Laketown Offices, 10 N. 200 E., Laketown, UT.   

Public Hearing on Proposed Ordinance Regarding the use of culinary wells within the borders of Laketown City.
	The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider two (2) amendments; 1 - will ban new culinary wells within Laketown where public culinary water is available. Currently, residents have the option of obtaining water rights to drill a culinary well on their property.  Laketown wants to protect their aquifer that feeds the Laketown water system by not allowing new wells from being drilled.  Under the proposed ordinance, if public culinary water service is available at the property, residence will be required to utilize the Laketown water system for their culinary water. 2 - to clarify its Minor Subdivision process. The ordinance allows small subdivisions without a plat when strict criteria are met. To qualify:
1.	The parcel must be 3 acres or smaller.
2.	No more than three lots can be created.
3.	The parcel cannot already be part of a subdivision.
4.	Only single-family residences are allowed, one per lot.
5.	No proposed streets or public easements may cross the property unless incorporated into the subdivision.
6.	Each lot must meet all culinary water, sewer, and land-use ordinance requirements (or have an approved variance).

The agenda for the meeting is as follows: (NOTE: The agenda may be accelerated or the line items may be discussed in any order.)
   
 Welcome
1.	Pledge of Allegiance
2.	Minutes
3.	PUBLIC HEARING 
a.	Brief Summary/Presentation By Laketown Planning and Zoning Commissioner
b.	Motion/Second/Vote to open the Public Hearing
c.	Call the public for comments (Note: Public should state name clearly for the record.)
d.	Motion/Second/Vote to close the Public Hearing
e.	Additional Planning Commission discussion (if needed)
f.	Motion/Second/Vote to either:
i.	Recommend approval to the Town Council; OR
ii.	Recommend approval to the Town Council with modifications; OR
iii.	Recommend denial to the Town Council with reasons therefore.

Public Planning and Zoning Meeting

4.	Report from City Council
5.	Other
6.	Around the Room
					

Notice of Special Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this public hearing should notify the Laketown Town Office at (435) 946-9000, 10 North 200 East, Laketown, Utah, on Monday through Wednesday at least 3 working days prior to the public hearing. The office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Individuals with speech and/or hearing impairments may call the Relay Utah by dialing 711. Spanish Relay Utah 1-888-346-3162.

Bear lake Valley Chamber of Commerce-Be a part of something great!

 Monthly Chamber Member Meeting - December 4, 2025

Location: City building above library

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

1. Lunch provided

2. New member introductions:

• Broken Spur Fencing; Lakeview Laundry; Lakeview Home and Pest Services, LLC

3. Winter offering preview. Whats open and whats not. Presentations about:

• Food offerings: Options for Dine in, take out, and catering…

• Recreational offerings:

o Beaver Mtn Ski Resort to present their lodging partnership program

o Epic Recreation presents on all their options for winter play

o Beaver Creek Lodge will present their guided snowmobile services and other winter offerings

o Horse Drawn Sleds by Adam Davidson

• Lodging summary and offerings

4. Rich County Trails update. Find out what our new Rich County trails is doing for planning and development of trail infrastructure. Presented by Wes Thompson Also learn about the free grooming areas in the canyon for cross country skiing and snowshowing presented by The Bear lake Trails Foundation

5. Garden City Downtown redevelopment project: Mark Smoot to present a phase two of Envision Garden City with a focus on the downtown corridor.

6. Save the dates:

a. Jan 8 - Chamber member meeting (moved from 1st)

b. Jan 10 – Youth Snowcross Races at Beaver Creek Lodge

c. Jan 30, 31 - Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

d. Feb 5 - Chamber member meeting

e. Feb 13, 14 - Skijoring the Bear on the Historic Kearl Ranch

f. March 5 – Chamber member meeting

g. March 26-29 – Spring Fling at Beaver Creek Lodge. Activities include: Avalanche courses, Group guided rides, Skidoo/unchartered society and other vendor winter gear sales and sled previews with the entertaining main event of “Beeter vintage souped up machine races”. Jumps, turns, crashes,,,,etc…. Great fun. Food trucks as well.

h. Beaver Mountain Easter Egg Hunt, Beaver Bash, and Snowmobile hill climb… Dates TBD but will be around 1st and second week of April

Garden City Christmas Tree Lighting