GARDEN CITY — Bear Lake’s water level has likely reached its peak for the summer as irrigation demand increases downstream, according to the latest Bear Lake Watch newsletter from John Holman.
The lake level measured 5,916.40 feet on May 18. Holman said pumps at the dam have already been running for several weeks to move water downstream for irrigation use.
The update comes as Utah and Idaho continue dealing with a difficult snowpack season. Utah’s statewide snowpack was just 21% of normal on May 1, while Idaho’s measured 58% of normal.
Conditions in the Upper Bear Basin were somewhat better than much of Utah, but still well below average. Snowpack in the Utah portion of the Bear River Basin measured about 35% of normal at the start of May.
Holman said warm weather earlier this spring quickly reduced much of the mountain snowpack, even though April storms brought some temporary improvement at higher elevations. This week’s storms (and snow at upper elevations) have helped their impact may be negligible.
Water forecasts for the Bear River system remain below normal heading into the summer months. Bear Lake storage is expected to help offset some of the shortages, but smaller water systems in the region are expected to face greater stress later in the season.
The outlook for the next several months is not especially encouraging. Forecasts call for warmer-than-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation through July, conditions that could further reduce water supplies across northern Utah and southeastern Idaho.
Holman also noted that forecasters are watching for the possible development of El Niño conditions later this year.