Bear Lake Geologic Background: Bear Lake Water Sources

Bear Lake Water Sources

Several fresh water springs outcrop in the hills to the west of Bear Lake, supplying the towns and lake with water all year.

Isolated from each other for thousands of years, a Bear Lake-Bear River connection was re-established in AD 1911-1912 to convert the lake into a water-storage reservoir. Power generation and irrigation projects draw water from the lake, in amounts controlled by the Bear River Compact. The Bear River water enters via a canal that enters Mud Lake and then Bear Lake. The mixed lake and river water exits just west of Mud Lake with the help of Lifton Pumping Station. An environmental concern about the Bear River diversion is silting-in of the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge located in Dingle Swamp. The Bear River carries a large sediment load because it travels through easily eroded rock upstream of Bear Lake Valley. This sediment falls out rapidly when the speed of water in the diversion channel slows upon reaching the swamp. As a result, the swamp is becoming shallower and previously wet areas may be emergent during drier years.

Water rights are important concerns in the area, as in most of the western U.S. (see links to Bear River water issues sites at bottom of page) Precipitation around the lake is in the range of 9-11 inches annually, but evaporation rates are higher, so groundwater and the diversion of the Bear River sustain modern lake levels. Studies show that at least one of the groundwater-fed springs (Swan Creek) responds rapidly to rain and snowmelt, indicating a strong connection between the local climate and groundwater discharge rates (Kaliser, 1972). There is little evidence for any true surface water sources, besides the Bear River, sending water to Bear Lake, although numerous underground springs come to the surface and run overland before reaching the lake.

The Bear Lake fault, under the eastern side of the lake, acts as a conduit for groundwater with high salt, sulfate, silica, chlorine and fluorine content. This mineral-rich water enters the lake through numerous springs, coming to the surface either on land or in the lake itself. Some of the springs are very high in minerals and create their own mini-environment nearby. The large number of springs with different chemistries and temperatures makes Bear Lake a crucible for endemism.

Bear River Water Issues

Bear River
Utah Power
Bear River Resource Conservation and Development
Bear River System Management
Water Rights Publications - Utah Geological Survey
The Wyoming State Water Plan Homepage
The Wyoming State Water - Bear River Basin
Idaho Rivers United - Bear River
Bear River Compact
Bear Lake Observatory Home
Surf Your Watershed -- Watershed Information -- Bear Lake

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Page Last Modified: Fri 28-Jun-2002 20:05:31 MDT