The federal government is involved in water quality on many fronts.

• Laws and agencies to protect natural resources
• Land management agencies
• Oversight and assistance to business and commerce
• Coordination between states

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The Clean Water Act Authorizes the EPA to treat Indian Tribes in the same manner as a State for the purposes of administering and implementing a water quality standards program Coupled with this is also the authority to review and certify (or not certify) certain permits written by the EPA, States, and the Army Corps of Engineers that may adversely affect the waters over which the Tribe has authority.

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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.

• Agriculture
• Environment
• Water Quality
• Water Rights/State Engineer
• Transportation
• Parks & Recreation
• Others

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See how they fit into the water quality of the Bear River.

• Counties
• Cities & Towns
• Conservation Districts
• RC& D
• Bear Lake Regional Commission

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Many nongovernmental organizations have "improvement of water quality" embedded in their respective missions and work to help advance the water quality efforts through various means of support including manpower, technical expertise, and funding.

See how the private sector helps.

• Bear Lake Watch
• Trout Unlimited
• Ducks Unlimited
• others

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An industry’s reliance on water makes them a partner in water quality. There are many industries in the Bear River community.

See how the industry partners help...

• PacifiCorp / Rocky Mountain Power
• Agricultural Producers and Irrigators
• Water Conservancy Districts
• Grazing & Cattle Producers 

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The universities associated with the Bear River basin serve to not only educate the water science professionals for the  future but also to advance the state of the science to help the Intermountain West manage water resources into the future.

Extension is unique in structure and function. As a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, the Extension System--with its network of county offices and state universities, is in a position to deliver educational programs at the grassroots level throughout the nation. This integration of teaching, research, and public service enables the Cooperative Extension System to provide materials and other support, including training and workshops for teachers, watershed coordinators, volunteers, etc. on different water quality issues.

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Land Owners – Private land holdings occupy the majority of the Bear River valleys and mid elevation terrain, therefore hold the keys to water quality improvements. Nearly every water quality project in the basin involved a landowner voluntarily participating and providing “match” in cash and/or labor and equipment.  (54% OR ABOUT 2.7 MILLION ACRES)

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What are they and how do they fit into the water quality picture?

• Bear River Commission
• Bear Lake Regional Commission
• US Fish & Wildlife Partners
• Utah Partners for Conservation & Development
• St. Charles Working Group
• Bear River / Cutler Reservoir Advisory Committee

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