GARDEN CITY – After coming within 1.3 feet of being completely full, Bear Lake’s water level has started to decrease. According to Utah’s Bear Lake State Park, <a href=”https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/bear-lake/current-conditions/” target=”_blank”>the lake reached a high elevation of 5,922.30 feet</a>, about eight feet above last year’s high mark.
After reaching its high mark last year, the lake dropped another four feet into October. If the lake continues to drop as expected, it could open up more beach area.
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The high water level has created problems for beachgoers this year, limiting access to all beaches except for Rendezvous Beach on the Utah side and North Beach in Idaho. Both beaches are open, but reservations are recommended to secure a spot at Rendezvous. Doug Stephens, a ranger at Idaho’s Bear Lake Park, told <a href=”http://CacheValleyDaily.com” target=”_blank”>CacheValleyDaily.com</a> in May that beach parking would not be available this summer, meaning less access and possibly temporarily closed gates.
The lake reached levels not seen for decades this summer, even passing 2011’s high water mark of 5,921.47 feet.