Water Quality Basics Bear River

STATE GOVERNMENT AND 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.

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See more about this topic at:
See how they fit into the water quality of the states.
	Agriculture Environment Water Quality Water Rights/State Engineer Transportation Parks & Recreation Others
Idaho Report	State Agency Roles in Idaho Water Quality Policy (pdf)

AGRICULTURE

Departments of Agriculture

The State’s Departments of Agriculture administers various state laws and rules to protect the environment while utilizing voluntary and regulatory programs and manages the contracts for the agricultural and rural watershed projects under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, Farm Bill EQIP and other programs

See more about this topic at:
UT	http://ag.utah.gov/conservation/nps_Statewide319.html
WY	http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/Environment/indexEnvironment.php
ID	http://wyagric.state.wy.us/NATRES/Natres.htm

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Departments of Environmental Quality

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UT
WY
ID

WATER QUALITY

Departments of Water Quality

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Each state’s Water Quality agency is under that state’s Department of Environmental Quality. They are to protect, maintain and enhance the quality of surface and underground waters for appropriate beneficial uses; and to protect the public health through eliminating and preventing water related health hazards which can occur as a result of improper disposal of human, animal or industrial wastes while giving reasonable consideration to the economic impact.

See more about this topic at:
UT	http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/
WY	http://deq.state.wy.us/wqd/
ID	http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water/prog_issues.cfm

WATER RIGHTS / STATE ENGINEER

Water Rights/ State Engineer

Water quality is always affected by water quantity. The administration of water use varies in each state.

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The Wyoming Constitution defines that all natural waters within the boundaries of the state are declared to be the property of the state. The Wyoming State Engineer's Office is charged with the regulation and administration of the water resources in Wyoming.
	http://seo.state.wy.us/about.aspx
The Idaho Department of Water Resources is headed by a director appointed by the governor. The agency is divided into three operating divisions, each headed by an administrator. Each division then has bureaus, sections or teams organized around specific areas of responsibility
	http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/about/orgpage.htm
Utah Division of Water Rights is the state agency that regulates appropriation and distribution of water in the state of Utah. It is an office of public record.
	http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/

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TRANSPORTATION

Departments of Transportation

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Because roads historically followed the streams and rivers, runoff from both dirt and surfaced roads have an effect on the water quality. Therefore, state transportation agencies are often tied into water quality projects.

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SOVEREIGN LANDS

Sovereign Lands

Public trust lands, known as "sovereign lands," lie below the ordinary high water mark of navigable bodies of water. Bear Lake can have up to 10,400 acres of exposed lake bed. This area, where land meets the water, is highly important to water quality and normally acts as a filter. The high recreational use of these lands exposes them to possible sources of pollution.

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Utah Forestry, Fire & State Lands manages all state-owned non-trust lands to derive optimum benefit from these resources held in public trust.
	http://www.ffsl.utah.gov/
Idaho Department of Lands: Navigable Waters Program - Public Trust Lands are the submerged lands lying below the natural ordinary high water line of navigable streams and rivers within the State. Title to these lands is held in trust and is managed for the public good rather than for a specific beneficiary.
	http://www.idl.idaho.gov/Bureau/smr/navwaters/nw_index.htm

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STATE TRUST LANDS

State Trust Lands Administration

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When the western states were formed, a checkered pattern of land parcels were held by the states to be managed to provide ongoing funding for schools and other beneficiaries. These isolated parcels of land have to be managed as part of the whole watershed.

See more about this topic at:
Wyoming Office of Lands and Investing	http://slf-web.state.wy.us/
Utah Trust Lands	http://www.utahtrustlands.com/about/?pageID=2
Idaho State Department of Lands	http://www.idl.idaho.gov/index.htm

FISH & GAME / WILDLIFE RESOURCES

Fish & Game/Wildlife Resources

The mission of the state wildlife agencies it to be the guardians of the state's wildlife. All wildlife, but especially fish and water fowl depend on good quality water.

See more about this topic at:
	http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/about/goals.php
	http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/about/history_funding/mission.cfm
	http://gf.state.wy.us/index.asp http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/nongame/LIP/PrairieStreamsWatersheds/index.asp

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ADVISORY GROUPS

Advisory Groups

There are advisory groups along the river to help direct water quality work. Some are connected to government programs and others are grassroots or citizen-based.

See more about this topic at:
Idaho BAG -Idaho statue provides for basin advisory groups to advise on water quality objectives for that basin. (also WAC, TAC – watershed and technical)
	http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=390360013.K
Wyoming - BAG – Local citizens representing a broad range of interest including agricultural, municipal, environmental, recreation, and industry. This group provides input on important water issues, reviews planning products, and assists with the water planning process in the River Basin.
	http://waterplan.state.wy.us/basins/bear/bear.html

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