Bear Lake, located 33 miles north of Spokane, was closed Thursday, July30. Spokane County Search Crews Continue Looking for Drowning VictimJuly 24th, several witnesses called 9-1-1 to report a man on a paddleboard had fallen off, tried to get back on, then slipped under the waters of Bear Lake. But, it's also known at times for having silty, murky water, and underwater vegetation is thick. Officials stress yet again, not wearing a life jacket greatly contributed to what is begin consdered a body recovery operation. In WA, we hear a lot about drownings, including irrigation canals, but we do not rank in the top 5 or even 7 nationall.