House Bill 142 Summary

• Declares state-owned lands at Bear Lake between ordinary high and low water marks are devoted to public use for preservation as a health resort and recreation place.

• Establishes dual complementary purposes for Bear Lake: recreation and storage of water diverted from the Bear River for downstream irrigation and other beneficial uses.

• Directs the Idaho Water Resource Board to apply for and obtain water rights for additional storage in Bear Lake, with storage use components for recreation, fish and wildlife, aesthetics, and downstream irrigation.

• Recognizes the Bear River Compact which grants Idaho the first 125,000 acre-feet of depletions of the Bear River basin from Bear Lake downstream to the Idaho-Utah state line.

• Authorizes the Idaho Water Resource Board to acquire easements, including flood easements on the Bear River, or other property necessary to store additional water in Bear Lake.