Bear Lake Research Project

In recent years, Bear Lake has experienced an influx of visitors and new residents, which is impacting the local environment and communities in a variety of ways. The Bear Lake research project engaged students from across one undergraduate and three graduate courses at USU by training them to use historical and qualitative methods for the benefit of local communities. The data collected, which is summarized in the research briefs below, helps to expand understandings of the socio-environmental concerns related to increased recreation, in-migration, and climate change at Bear Lake from a variety of stakeholders. Students and professors interviewed local scientists, part-time and full-time residents, community leaders, and local environmental organizations to assess scientifically-grounded concerns alongside community perceptions of impacts related to increased tourism and in-migration. The data collected is intended to help environmental and community advocates better design communication campaigns and community engagement efforts to effectively address the problems identified.

This project will benefit students by teaching them applied research skills. It will also engage them in work that is of use to adjacent communities, thereby teaching them how to conduct community-centered research. The stakeholders interviewed will also benefit from the research results, which will be presented in a public forum that engages them in conversation. The students and researchers will use the data and subsequent conversations to develop and share a series of research briefs that summarize findings.

Students from the following courses conducted research alongside Dr. Betsy Brunner, Dr. Jessica Schad, and Dr. Stacia Ryder:

SOC 6630: Social & Community Dimensions of Natural Resources
SOC 6800: Climate & Environmental Justice
CMST 6999: Science Communication
CMST 3280: Organizations & Social Change

Bear Lake Project 2024 Overview