Bear Lake

A motorboat sprays water and churns up a wake as it speeds across the surface of Bear Lake on a sunny day. Mountain foothills dotted with cabins can be seen in the background beneath a blue sky.

Bear Lake Research Grant Projects

Related Reports

In the 2023 Utah legislative session, Utah State University was allocated funding to conduct a needs assessment of the Bear Lake Comprehensive Management Plan, under the direction of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands. The plan outlines key issues within the sovereign lands of Bear Lake, as well as needed next steps for research and coordination.

This work is critical. Bear Lake is unique in the region as one of just three large natural lakes in Utah. Of those three, it has by far the highest recreational appeal. As such, the Bear Lake area has seen a 300- percent increase in use and visitation over the past 10 years. Additionally, its span across state lines and its dual use as a reservoir creates additional challenges for the lake.

The Bear Lake Needs Assessment project comprises three main components: a comprehensive report (compiled by The Institute for Land, Water, and Air), an interdisciplinary research program (conducted by USU researchers), and an outreach component (managed by the Institute for Land, Water, and Air). The project was designed to build a network of relationships between a community of experts to address issues surrounding Bear Lake’s natural ecology and human uses.

Water Quantity and Flow

  • Measure inflows and improve the accuracy of water budgeting/accounting for the lake.
  • Better understand groundwater inputs such as springs and seeps.
  • Identify threats to the lake’s natural limnological conditions.

Water Quality

  • Identify threats to Bear Lake’s unique water chemistry and color.
  • Understand relationship between water quality and lake level and color.
  • Management of area stormwater.

Land and sediment

  • Better understand lake circulation and sediment process.
  • Understand degradation of Bear Lake sand beaches.
  • Understand sediment filtration from wetlands.
  • Identify sources of rare earth, silver, and mercury sediment deposits in Mud Lake.

Plant life

  • Inventory and map invasive and noxious weed occurrences and dispersal vectors.
  • Inventory and map wetlands and riparian areas to study how they change with fluctuating lake levels.
  • Better understand Bear Lake’s phytoplankton community.

Wildlife and habitat

  • Determine how fluctuating lake levels influence key fish and wildlife habitats.
  • Inventory and monitor littoral cobble habitats and spawning tributaries.
  • Determine where fish and wildlife habitat could be enhanced or restored on sovereign lands.
  • Inventory mollusk and amphibian species.

Data and visualization

  • Creation of an interactive longitudinal lake elevation graph.
  • Develop quantitative metrics to determine the value of Bear Lake non-commodity resources, such as recreation, fisheries, and wetlands.

Outdoor recreation management

  • Determine visitor carrying capacity of Bear Lake.
  • Determine how fluctuating lake levels impact various recreation uses and infrastructure at the lake.
  • Determine recommended distance between access points for the lakeshore.
  • Identify strategies and infrastructure to reduce overcrowding at the lake.

Environmental planning and transportation

  • Develop solutions to parking issues that arise during periods of high visitation or high lake levels.
  • Survey area for cultural resources, including pre-historic sites.
  • Set process for registering critical sites for National Register of Historic Places.
  • Identify opportunities for the preservation of agricultural lands and open space in the Bear Lake area.

Sociology and survey research

  • Understand recreation needs and the desired recreation experience at Bear Lake.
  • Understand role and attitudes of part-time homeowners in the Bear Lake area.
  • Larger scale survey of general attitudes and recommendations for Bear Lake.
  • Create best practices guidance for Bear Lake socioeconomics.

Communication, marketing, and outreach

  • Rapid response plan should quagga mussels or other aquatic invasive species be discovered in Bear Lake.
  • Public awareness and educational and outreach programs about Bear Lake and responsible use.
  • Development of information for adjacent upland landowners on the importance of a healthy lake ecosystem and how to reduce impacts to the lake.
  • Development of visual and design assets for Bear Lake management communication materials.

Key Research Issues at Bear Lake