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Show FEATURES IP Niini this sectim sf the newspaper and wia CLASSIFIEDS TV GUIDE PAUL HARVEY two nights at beautiful Sweet Water Park on o Beat Lakn. Just write your suggestion on a postcard and sand it to tha paper. o o SiHkanl It Tki Pritlta Ciua Ciiuai, Cacka Crtuaa Criina, ill laaai-Cartaa- a Tka Idaka Tiaaa, Eatarprua THURSDAY. JUNE 6. 1974 Bear ffiiwer -A f try ewelp memfi A peaceful, flowing shallow Bear River, belying its high development. One of America's first multi-purpos- e reclamation'projects Lake, the Bear to the whole has THE RIVKK AND THE lake, combined with engin- eering ingenuity, became one of Americas first come prehensive, multi-purpos- reclamation projects. The Bear River-Bea- r Lake development, conceived by the Telluride Power company in the early 1900s, was built by Utah Power and Light without cost to the farmers of the area or to the federal government. The project provides water for irrigation; minimizes flooding of downstream farm land; furnishes boating, fishing and other recreation for thousands of people, and makes possible the generation of electric power. BEAR RIVER, no doubt was once a natural tributary of the ancient lake, with a shoreline 30 feet above present elevation. Geologists say that sediment eventually formed a plain, separating Bear River from the lake. Later, wave action formed a natural causeway extending across the lake's northern shore. Between this causeway and the Bear River, lying on the plain separating the river and the lake, is a group of shallow, intercon- nected lakes collectively called Mud Lake or North Lake. . Initial construction of the facilities to divert Bear River water into Bear Lake was begun in 1909 by the Telluride Power. In 1912 Utah Power and Light company was organized, consolidating some 130 predecessor companies including the Telluride company. project, become a recreational It originates in Utahs high Uintas. Its meandering, son mile course passes in and out of three states Utah, Wyoming and Idaho - before the well worked waters of Bear River empty into the Great Salt Lake, just 90 miles from its place of origin. Less than midway in it's journey, it passes Bear Lake on the Utah Idaho border. key mecca. UTAH POWER and Light continued work on the Bear River-Bea- r Lake project, and in 1918, the Bear Lake project was completed. Construction of the downstream power plants was completed in 1928. Key to the whole develop- ment is the use of Bear Lake as a storage reservoir. The lake is a natural body of water with a surface area of 140 square miles and lies in a Wasatch Mountain basin, half in Utah and half in Idaho. The lake stretches about 20 miles north and south and is about seven miles wide. Converting Bear Lake to a storage reservoir required the digging on inlet and outlet canals connecting the river and the lake. By means of a system of canals and control structures, flood runoff in the spring can be diverted from Bear River into Bear Lake, and then, later released back into the river when water is needed for irrigation and power production. THERE IS considerable fluctuation of the surface level of Bear Lake because of its use as a storage reservoir for irrigation. The annual fluctuation of the lake averages 3.2 feet. However, the long time fluctuation during the years of operation has been through the full range of 21.65 feet of developed reservoir capacity. A pumping plant was built near the center of the north shore to lift water from the lake into a man-mad- e outlet canal and return it to the river at a point just west of the city of Montpelier for use down stream as irrigators and generating plants require it. The five big pumps at Lifton Plant have a lifting capability of 1,500 cubic feet of water per second. Through operation of the stations pumps and gates, controlled storage in Bear Lake has a range of 21.65 feet with a capacity of 1.421.000 acre feet. WATER RELEASED from the lake, used primarily for irrigation, is also utilized in five downstream hydroelectric plants with a combined generating capacity of 125,500 kilowatts. Three of the plants also have reservoirs and provide for recreational activities. Control of the Bear River system rests with the three states within which the river flows. These states control this operation through their re- spective state water reCoor- source organizations. dination between the three states is accomplished by their participation in the $ear River Commission. A U.S. district court decree, dated July 13, 1920, granted diversion rights of 5,500 cubic feet per second of Bear River water to storage in the lake. the Bear River compact of 1955 permitted storage de- velopment above Bear Lake of 36.500 acre feet annually; and provided for a specified reserve of stored water that could only be released for irrigation as its primary use. If the lake's elevation falls below 5,914.7 feet, no storage water can be released unless required for downstream irrigation use. RIVER and Bear offer a barrell of water-oriente-d fun. One of the regions best boating waters. Bear Lake attracts hundreds of sailors with a yen for both sail and engine-powere-d BEAK Lake watercraft each year. The lake waterskiing, is ideal for and for just lolling or building sand castles along Bear Lakes many beaches. o Just south of the border, on the Western shore of the lake, is the Utah State Marina that provides dock facilities and an information center. On the lakes northern shore, just east of Utah Power and Light's Lifton Pumping plant, is the Utah-Ida-h- Idaho State park beach which attracts crowds throughout the summer months. FISHING IS limited in Bear Lake. There are some mackinaw in the deeper waters off the eastern shore of the lake, and each winter something amazing hap pens: The Cisco run. The Cisco is a sardine like fish averaging about four inches in length. Each winter in they spawn. The Cisco run is confined to one or two coves on the east side of the lake, and during the spawning run, literally hundreds of people, both men and women, wade out in the cold waters of Bear Lake to net the tasty fish. Motels, cabins and camping areas ring the lake, and the city of Montpelier is just 18 miles awgy from the lakes northern shore. Utah Power and Light in cooperation with other organizations. has provided mid-Janua- facilities such as public beaches, boat launches and docks and wild life preserves for the public's recreational enjoyment. THE RIVER BEIJIW the Grace and Oneida power plants provides good trout fishing. Cutler reservoir is located under a water-fow- l flyway. This reservoir has become a favorite spot for hunters. One of the most important benefits of the Bear River-Bea- r Lake project is the controlled release of stored see Page 12 |