First Substitute S.C.R. 5

Senator Peter C. Knudson proposes the following substitute bill:

1 BEAR LAKE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 2011 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
5 House Sponsor: Roger E. Barrus
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages state and
10 local governments surrounding the Bear Lake area to work together to ensure
11 responsible development of the area.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . recognizes that the beautiful Bear Lake area is a treasure to be preserved;
15 . encourages government entities at both state and local levels that will be impacted
16 by future development at Bear Lake and in the Bear Lake Valley to focus on
17 preserving the beauty, agricultural importance, environmental quality, and
18 ecological balance of this natural resource;
19 . encourages these governmental entities to preserve the Bear Lake area and allow
20 only those light industries and other development that will not interfere with the
21 unique nature of Bear Lake in order to preserve the area's beauty and utility for
22 future generations; and
23 . states that nothing in the resolution is intended to impact the operation of Bear Lake
24 as a reservoir for storage, water delivery, and distribution to water users in the Bear
25 River Valley.

26 . Special Clauses:
27 None
28
29 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
30 WHEREAS, Bear Lake is positioned between Idaho and Utah and is one of the focal
31 points of interest belonging to these two great states;
32 WHEREAS, Bear Lake is considered by many to be the "Caribbean of the West"
33 because of its turquoise blue color;
34 WHEREAS, Bear Lake has become a recreational destination for people from
35 throughout the West because of the great boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, scouting, and
36 biking opportunities it provides;
37 WHEREAS, Bear Lake's beautiful scenery, gorgeous sunsets, and changing lake colors
38 provide peace to the soul and natural esthetics that are rare and valuable to all who behold
39 them;
40 WHEREAS, Bear Lake has been an important source of water for Northern Utah's
41 agricultural interests since the settlement and development of the region and has been and
42 continues to be important to the development and preservation of wetland habitat;
43 WHEREAS, there is growing recognition that the Bear Lake area will continue to grow
44 and that local development can be beneficial;
45 WHEREAS, because Bear Lake belongs to all the citizens of Utah and Idaho, the reality
46 of development raises significant concerns for many residents and visitors who hope that the
47 character of Bear Lake and Bear Lake Valley will be preserved, not sacrificed;
48 WHEREAS, nothing in this resolution is intended to impact the operation of Bear Lake
49 as a reservoir for storage, water delivery, and distribution to water users in the Bear River
50 Valley;
51 WHEREAS, several Utah state agencies also have a stake in development along Bear
52 Lake and in the Bear Lake Valley due to its potential impact on this precious resource;
53 WHEREAS, the state of Idaho also has a vested interest in any development of this
54 area, since portions of the area fall within that state's boundaries; and
55 WHEREAS, while it may be inevitable that future development will occur along Bear
56 Lake and in the surrounding Bear Lake Valley, it is vital that this development not be allowed

57 to encroach on the beauty, agricultural importance, environmental quality, and ecological
58 balance of this natural resource:
59 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
60 Governor concurring therein, recognize that the beautiful Bear Lake area is a treasure to be
61 preserved.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
63 government entities at both state and local levels that will be impacted by future development
64 at Bear Lake and in the Bear Lake Valley to focus on preserving the beauty, agricultural
65 importance, environmental quality, and ecological balance of this natural resource.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage those
67 governmental entities to preserve the Bear Lake recreation area so that only those light
68 industries and other development that will not interfere with the unique nature of Bear Lake
69 should be allowed in order to preserve the area's beauty and utility for future generations.
70 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor state that nothing
71 in this resolution is intended to impact the operation of Bear Lake as a reservoir for storage,
72 water delivery, and distribution to water users in the Bear River Valley;
73 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
74 Division of State Lands, the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, the Utah Division of
75 Water Quality, the Utah Division of Water Rights, the Utah Department of Agriculture and
76 Food, Rich County, Cache County, Box Elder County, Bear Lake County, the cities of
77 Woodruff, Randolph, Lake Town, and Garden City, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, the
78 Utah Association of Counties, Bear Lake Watch, the members of Utah's congressional
79 delegation, the members of Idaho's congressional delegation, the cities of St. Charles,
80 Bloomington, Paris, and Montpelier in Idaho, and to Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter.