News Story - Idaho State Journal

For the Journal

FISH HAVEN -- The executive director of the Bear Lake Regional Commission, Allen Harrison, has retired after serving his community for nearly 35 years.

Harrison joined the Bear Lake Regional Commission in August 1974 after it was organized by former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus and former Utah Gov. Calvin Rampton in order to manage the natural resources of a vast area.

The region it covers stretches across Bear Lake County in Idaho and Rich County in Utah, and it holds the natural resources of Bear Lake, Bear River and its network of tributaries and sections of the Cache and Caribou National Forests.

Harrison described himself as "an old farmer boy."

He spent the first decade in his position creating and installing a sewer system on the shores of Bear Lake, as well as drawing multiple comprehensive plans for the development of the area. The work was prompted by a concern among local citizens that the growing population would pollute the lake.

The comprehensive plans that Harrison drew in the early days required him to work with many other organizations, such as the Idaho and Utah Fish and Wildlife Services, local citizens, private developers and local law enforcement.

Working as a go-between to focus so many different entities on the common goal of preserving and managing Bear Lake's resources, Harrison came into his own. He preferred to work with the different organizations in one-on-one meetings, as needed "instead of getting them all in one big room and trying to get everything done at once."

Through this approach, Harrison was able to bring Idaho and Utah law enforcement agencies together to create a local law enforcement compact that allowed them to function across state lines. This also allowed ambulance service and firefighters to provide aid no matter where help was needed. The cooperation proved particularly crucial in rural areas during the summer fire season.

Harrison also employed his hands-on management style in other projects such as stabilizing the banks of the streams that feed into the Bear River, which ultimately empties into Bear Lake.

The stabilization projects are ongoing and have caused Harrison to spend his summers in the operator's seat of a Track Ho for several years. However, during this time he has been able to work with many farmers and ranchers as well as conservation groups such as Trout Unlimited.

"It was amazing how fast this area grew. They've had to expand that sewer system in Idaho and Utah a little bit quicker than I anticipated," Harrison said.

Even in retirement, it appears Harrison will stay busy.

Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman called Harrison just a few days after his retirement to invite him to work with a committee that is trying to form a commission similar to that of Bear Lake for the Great Salt Lake, except on a much larger scale.

When asked about other plans for the future Harrison mentioned some antique cars in his garage that are in need of some wrench attention. He's also excited about the possibility of entering the political arena.

Though Harrison wasn't successful in his most recent bid for a seat in the Idaho State Legislature, he believes that all the interagency work and project management he has done through the years has left him well-suited for political office.

Harrison also looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laurie, and their six children and seven grandchildren.

By Cody Bloomsburg

This document was originally published online on Wednesday, January 07, 2009

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