The Bear River Compact
| Geolocation: | 42° 9' 11.6039", -111° 9' 24.917" |
|---|---|
| Total Area | 19,42519,425 km² 7,499.993 mi² km2 |
| Climate Descriptors | Semi-arid/steppe (Köppen B-type), Arid/desert (Köppen B-type) |
| Predominent Land Use Descriptors | agricultural- cropland and pasture, conservation lands, urban, urban- high density |
| Important Uses of Water | Agriculture or Irrigation, Domestic/Urban Supply, Hydropower Generation, Industry - consumptive use, Industry - non-consumptive use, Recreation or Tourism |
Summary
The Bear River charts a winding, 490-mile horseshoe-shaped course from the Utita Mountains in eastern Utah, up into Wyoming and Idaho, and then back down into Utah where it empties into the Great Salt Lake, 90 miles from its point of origin. The river goes back and forth across state borders several times, making a total of five crossings.
The Bear River is heavily developed and is used primarily for agricultural irrigation. The river is also utilized to generate hydropower and, increasingly, as a municipal water source. The State of Utah has plans to develop the lower stretch of the Bear River to provide water for the rapidly growing population of the Wasatch Front. The river provides water to several important wetland areas and accounts for 60% of the freshwater inflow to the Great Salt Lake.
Allocation and management of the Bear River is governed by the Bear River Compact, an interstate agreement between Utah, Wyoming and Idaho that became law on March 17th, 1958. The Bear River Commission was established to oversee and carry out the Compact. Each state has three representatives on the Commission in addition to a tenth non-voting, federally-appointed commissioner. The current version of the compact, known as the Amended Bear River Compact, was instated February 8th, 1980 and updated in 1998.
Natural, Historic, Economic, Regional, and Political Framework
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