Bear Lake Comments

Name: Susan Kempter
Address: Albuquerque, NM
Date: 3/11/2009

My father built a cabin on Bear Lake in 1951 in what is now called "Hodges Beaches." Our cabin is located north of the boat ramp, and is currently the home of my daughter and her husband, John and Melissa Spuhler.

When I was a child, the front of the cabin was a marshy area inhabited by frogs, muskrats, water snakes, and dozens of varieties of water-loving birds. The habitat is fed by natural springs, which abound along that particular section of the beach, providing spawning areas for Bear Lake roughtail suckers, as well as a natural environment for watercress, grasses and cattails.

I happened to be at the cabin last spring, and was overjoyed to hear frogs and to see and hear some of the old water birds, killdeer, red-winged blackbirds and others. It felt like a healthy place where those animals could flourish and find sanctuary.

I also happened to be at the lake later in the summer, and was dismayed for several reasons:

There was not one frog to be heard
The birds present were sparrows, magpies and blackbirds. Indigenous water birds were not present
The people were riding ATV's and trucks all over the wetland areas, which had obviously destroyed bird sanctuaries, frog habitat and vegetation.
I did the same thing I have done for several years, which is watch the number of people children, vehicles and loose dogs on the beach, while counting the number of visits to the portable toilets. Obviously, the lake is a handy restroom for the vast number of its visitors.
It was disturbing to see cars parked next to the water, which is yet another means of environmental pollution.
Each evening, we went to the beach and picked up papers, cans, bottles, diapers and dog dung. Of course, all of the above that was tossed in the lake will remain there to pollute.

I hope that your committee will consider the fragile nature of the lake's natural beaches and wetlands,and take action to protect them both.

Susan Kempter