Bear Lake North of Spokane Remains Closed, Body Recovery

Bear Lake, 33 miles north of Spokane, will remain closed again Friday July 31st.

   Body Recovery Efforts Continue in Murky Lake

July 24th. a man was seen paddleboarding on Bear Lake, which is north of Spokane, near Chattaroy, without a life jacket.  He slipped off and went under the water, according to witnesses.  He did not resurface.

Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies and Search and Rescue combed the lake looking for the man, but could not find him. He was presumed drowned in the 29-acre lake.

   Another Extensive Search Was Performed Thursday

The lake was closed to the public Thursday, July 30th, to allow for an extensive sonar and other scanning search, but the SCSO said due to poor weather and murky water they were not able to cover extensive ground. The lake is known to have poor water visibility due to a multi-foot layer of silt that lies on its bottom.

The average depth is about 20 feet, increasing as it moves to the center where it’s 54 feet.

The lake will be closed again on Friday, July 31st. to allow for more searches.  The SCSO is determined to locate the man.   Officials said movement under the water stirs up the silt, making visibility almost zero.  The closure will affect the Bear Lake Regional Park at the south of the lake as well.

 Do More People Drown in Lakes than Irrigation Canals?

More drownings in WA state occur in open lakes and rivers, than in irrigation canals, the margin is close, but over 50 percent occur in natural waters–according to the WA State Department of Health.