Bear Lake

Apparently some Bear Lake fans have joined the town meeting. We received these three comments.

We need to try and get moving on the marina at Bear Lake. The old one is way too small (waiting lists are years) and too old. One of our boating friends was hurt when the dock arm failed to support his 175lbs. I really would love Utah to keep making more and more money on the use of the marina. It must be a money making profit center for the State.

Marie Phipps
General Contractor
Farmington


Please issue funding to build a Deep Water Marina @ Bear Lake State Park. Due to the dry years the Marina's use is limited. There is a waiting list for slips and Bear Lake to the top Money producer in the State Park System. The current design creates havoc because so many boats travel through the 30 foot wide entrance. The time to act is now.

Jeff Cohen
Park City


In 1996 Bear Lake Marina was reopened and has received inadequate funding to maintain the docks, picnic area and sanitation facilities. The docks on the North side are over 30 years old presenting safety issues. The mouth of the Marina is less than 25 yards wide presenting safety issues with boats crowding, trying to get into the Marina.

I understand that Bear Lake is one of the few State Parks that actually shows a profit and the waiting list for slips ranges up to five years. My two questions are, why has the Park been allowed to deteriorate? 2. What are the plans for the replacement of the North side docks and or a new Marina?

Antelope Island, Great Salt Lake and Willard Bay all have received additional funding and their usage is minimal in comparison.

Richard Walsh
Retired/Consultant
Davis

Bear Lake is in my district so I'll answer this one. I believe the marina was improved 5 or more years ago but is now on both the Governor's and Division of State Park's list for the next session's top priority. The plan is to build a much larger marina adjacent to the present one. We have not done a good job in funding for normal wear and tear to our parks until last year when we gave State Parks an unrestricted $2.0 Million for that purpose.

We actually visited the State Marina at Bear Lake during the site visit two years ago (here's a picture) and we got to see and understand the problems you mentioned first hand (so, see - some good things do come from these site visits). Thank you for your question. If I run into you at the lake this summer I'll treat you to a Raspberry Shake.

Lyle Hillyard
Utah State Senator
District 25

This comment arrived 8/20/07:

Name: Mayor Kenneth Hansen
Community: Town of Garden City

Comments: The expansion of the Bear Lake Marina will be a great addition to the marina. My concern is the already congested highway leading to and from the marina. That state road is not adequate to handle the traffic in that area and the expansion will only add to the congestion. We have had numberous accidents on that road just this summer. If the expansion is approved I request that the state look at lowering the speed limit in that area and widening the road in front of the marina so we don't add to the number of accidents.