GEO-POLITICAL CHALLENGES ON THE BEAR
 

The Bear River ties together the land of various ownership, management and jurisdiction, creating geographical and political challenges in dealing with water quality.

Coordination and cooperation are essential.

 The internet is constantly changing. If you detect a broken link or have suggestions for additional links, click here.

MULTIPLE STATE AGENCIES

 
The Bear River crosses state boundaries 5 times…
Photo source:
 

STATE AGENCIES

The state governments are ultimately responsible for maintaining the water quality within its borders. They have departments or divisions whose sole purpose is overseeing water quality, but many other agencies have ties to the state's water quality.
   

100 + LOCAL COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITIES
   

Over 150 communities – including 52 incorporated cities and towns in the Bear River watershed with a combined population of about 140,000…

See more about this topic at:
Wyoming

http://www.city-data.com/city/Wyoming3.html
Idaho http://www.gonorthwest.com/Idaho/southeast/idse.htm
Utah http://www.onlineutah.com/counties3.shtml
Waste Water Treatment "Small Town Leads Technology"
USU - UWRL Water Education and Technology Transfer
Click map for larger image

ADVISORTY GROUPS

ADVISORTY GROUPS
   
Photo source: waterplan.state.wy.us

Advisory Groups are citizens groups assembled to help advise the States and regulatory agencies on water issues including water quality.

See more about this topic at:
Wyoming Bear River Basin Advisory Group
Idaho Bear River Working Group
Utah Bear River / Cutler Reservoir Advisory Meeting
   
   

2 EPA REGIONS

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
   

EPA Regions – 2 Regions – Utah and Wyoming are in Region 8, with offices in Denver, Colorado. Idaho is in Region 10, whose offices are in Seattle, Washington.

See more about this topic at:

Region 8

Utah & Wyoming

Region 10

Idaho

Photo source: EPA web site (highlight added)

6 BLM OFFICES

BLM - BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR)
   
Photo source: BLM logo
The BLM is responsible for carrying out a variety of programs for the management and conservation, of resources on 258 million surface acres, as well as 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate, These public lands make up about 13 percent of the total land surface of the United States and more than 40 percent of all land managed by the Federal government.
See more about this topic at:
Wyoming Office http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en.html
Wy – Kemmerer Office

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Kemmerer.html

Idaho Office http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en.html
ID – Pocatello Office http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/pocatello.html
Utah Office http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en.html
UT – Salt Lake Office http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/salt_lake.html

2 ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS DIVISIONS

The United States Army Corps of Engineers
   

USACE – 2 Divisions

Army Corps of Engineers are responsible for the implementation of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act dealing with wetlands.

See more about this topic at:

2 Divisions

 http://www.usace.army.mil/howdoi/civilmap.htm

Northwest – Walla Walla District

 https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/home.asp

South Pacific – Sacramento District

 http://www.spd.usace.army.mil/
Photo source:

3 USDA AGNECIES

USDA - 3 AGENCIES
   
Photo source:
USDA – 3 Agencies - many avenues to improve water quality
See more about this topic at:
NRCS -8 Service Centers
US Forest Service – Region 4 -four Forests

Farm Service Administration - 3+ Programs
RC& D
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS – 4

8 NRCS SERVICE CENTERS

NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE
   

The mission goals of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are: High Quality, Productive Soils * Clean & Abundant Water * Healthy Plant & Animal Communities * Clean Air * An Adequate Energy Supply * Working Farm & Ranch Lands.

See more about this topic at:
NRCS -8 Service Centers Find a Service Center
Photo source: US DEPT OF AG : NRCS

2 US FOREST SERVICE

US FOREST SERVICE
   
Photo source: USFS web site

The mission of the USFA is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people: It includes: Advocating a conservation ethic in promoting the health, productivity, diversity, and beauty of forests and associated lands. The forests of our upper watershed provide the initial state of the Bear River water quality.

 

See more about this topic at:
US Forest Service – Region 4 -four Forests Intermountain Region
Caribou-Targee(3 of 8 Districts
Wasatch-Cache(1 of 3 Districts)

FARM SERVICE ADMINISTRATION

FARM SERVICE ADMINISTRATION
   

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices.

  • Conservation Reserve Program
  • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
  • Emergency Conservation Program
  • Farmable Wetlands Program
  • Grassland Reserve Program
  • Conservation Reserve Program Reports
  • Conservation Reserve Program Statistics
  • Source Water Protection Program
See more about this topic at:

Farm Service Administration - 3+ Programs

 fsa.usda.gov
Photo source: US logos

4 SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

SWCD
   
Photo source:
The mission of the soil and water conservation districts is to coordinate assistance from all available sources—public and private, local, state and federal—in an effort to develop locally-driven solutions to natural resource concerns. A great deal of this work contributes to improved water quality.
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS – 4 Find a Local District
See more about this topic at:

2 US FISH & WILDLIFE REGIONS

US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
   

. US FWS – 2 Regions - 5 Wildlife Refuges

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This often includes partnering on water quality projects.

See more about this topic at:
"Who is Helping: FEDERAL -US FISH & WILDLIFE "

Pacific

http://www.fws.gov/pacific/

Mountain- Prairie

http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/
Photo source: