Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Natural Resources
Title R652 - Forestry, Fire and State Lands
Rule R652-70 - Sovereign Lands
Section R652-70-2300 - Management of Bear Lake Sovereign Lands

Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 652-70-2300

Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024

(1) Lands lying below the ordinary high water mark of Bear Lake as of the date of statehood are owned by the state of Utah and shall be administered by the division as sovereign lands.

(2) Upon application for a specific use of state lands near the boundary of Bear Lake, or in the event of a dispute as to the ownership of the sovereign character of the lands near the boundary of Bear Lake, the division may evaluate all relevant historical evidence of the lake elevation, the water erosion along the shoreline, the topography of the land, and other relevant information to determine the relationship of the land in question to the ordinary high water mark.

(3) In the absence of evidence establishing the ordinary high water mark as of the date of statehood, the division shall administer all the lands within the bed of Bear Lake and lying below the level of 5,923.65 feet above mean sea level, Utah Power and Light datum, as being sovereign lands.

(4) The division, after notice to affected state agencies and any person with an ownership in the land, may enter into agreements to establish boundaries with owners of land adjoining the bed of Bear Lake; provided that the agreements shall not set a boundary for sovereign lands below the level of 5,923.65 feet above mean sea level.

(5) The established speed limit is 10 miles per hour.

(6) Camping and use of motorized vehicles are prohibited between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

(7) No campfires or fireworks are allowed.

(8) The use and operation of motor vehicles on sovereign land at Bear Lake shall be governed by Utah Code 65A-3-1 and division plans.

(9) Pursuant to 65A-2-6(2), to obtain a permit to launch or retrieve a motorboat on states lands surrounding Bear Lake, a person shall:

(a) Complete the online Mussel-Aware Boater Program and receive a multiple use Decontamination Certification Form valid through the end of the calendar year as required and provided by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as part of the Aquatic Invasive Species Program.

(10) A person may only purchase one (1) beach launching permit annually.

(a) The permit is valid for the calendar year within which the permit is issued.

(b) The permit does not authorize launching or retrieving a motorboat or parking or operating a motor vehicle in an area designated as closed to motorized use.

(c) Lost or stolen permits may be replaced at the established fee.

(11) The division may enter into an agreement with a local governmental entity or state agency to issue the beach launching permits in compliance with the requirements listed above.

(a) The agreement will allow the entity or agency to establish a minimal administrative fee not to exceed $25 for issuing the beach launching permit.

(12) The division or the entity or agency with an agreement to issue the beach launching permit may revoke a permit or deny an applicant a permit to launch under the following circumstances:

(a) The applicant fails to comply with the beach launching permit requirements and stipulations listed above (R652-70-2300(9) (a-b) and R652-70-2300(10) (a-c))

(b) the applicant fails to acquire a lease or permit for structures placed on sovereign lands that may include but is not limited to buoys, piers, docks (with the associated anchors/weights) or boat ramps as required in R652-70-300.

(13) Persons found in violation of 65A-3-1 (1-3) are subject to the criminal penalties set forth in 76-3-204 and 76-3-301 as determined by the court as well as civil damages set forth in 65A-3-1(3).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Utah may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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