Big Bear Paddlefest

The annual Big Bear Paddlefest returns, and this year will be a weekend-long event in Fawnskin on Big Bear Lake’s North Shore. Saturday’s activities include on-water clinics and an outdoor-industry sports exhibit. Sunday is highlighted by the Paddlefest races, which will include 5K and 10K races, both solo and tandem, for canoers and kayakers, as well as a 30K around Big Bear Lake and a free Kids’ Fun Paddle for those ages 12 and under. For more information on the weekend event, visit KBHR’s Paddlefest story, posted in June, or log on to BigBearPaddlefest.com. This event is also the third of four in the Conquer the Bear series.

Big Bear Paddlefest Returns on July 10 & 11; Paddling Clinic in Fawnskin This Weekend

Fawnskin, CA — The Big Bear Paddlefest, the third of four sporting events in the 2nd annual Conquer the Bear series, launches from Fawnskin in just a month, on the weekend of July 10 and 11. As announced today by event organizers with North Shore Trading Company, Janet Dooley says, “We wanted to hold a weekend-long event that would be equally fun for serious paddle enthusiasts and those new to the sports of paddling.” Pre-race day activities on Saturday the 10th will include on-water kayak and paddleboard clinics and an outdoor-industry sports exhibit; then, on Sunday, the Paddlefest races will be held in Grout Bay, on Big Bear Lake’s North Shore. The races are open to all levels, and will include 10K and 5K canoe and kayak competitions, for both tandem and solo paddlers. This year’s event will also include a 30K around the lake, as well as a free Kids’ Fun Paddle, open to those ages 12 and under. For those interested in gearing up for the competition, North Shore Trading Company will offer a series of three-hour paddling clinics, the first of which begins this Saturday, June 12; the clinic launches from Captain John’s Fawn Harbor Marina at 9am, and is available for a cost of $25. For more information on the clinic, visit GoPaddleACanoe.com. Additional information on the July Paddlefest is available at BigBearPaddlefest.com, and specifics on the Conquer the Bear series (which began with February’s Snowshoe the Bear) are available at OpenAirBigBear.com.

MWD’s East Public Launch Ramp Opens, New and Improved, on June 11; West Ramp Remains Open to Boaters

Big Bear Lake, CA — Earlier this week, the MWD announced a temporary closure of the boat ramp located just west of Stanfield Cutoff on the North Shore. In an updated press release, here are the additional details: “The Big Bear Municipal Water District announces that the Carol Morrison East Public Launch Ramp will be closed through Thursday, June 10 for construction.  The contractor, WTA Construction out of Cedar Glen, will be working over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6, and has assured the District that the work will be completed and the ramp can be opened again on Friday, June 11. In addition to new asphalt paving, a new vessel decontamination station is being constructed. While these improvements are long overdue, the District apologizes for the inconvenience the ramp closure creates. The Duane Boyer West Public Launch Ramp is available for launching. Also, while the East Ramp is closed, free boat launching and Quagga Mussel inspection will be available at Big Bear Marina on the south shore from 7am until 4pm weekdays and from 6am until 6pm on the weekend. Any questions can be directed to the District Office at 909/866-5796 during regular business hours.”

Diligence of Marina Inspector Keeps Big Bear Lake Quagga Mussel Free; All Boats Must Be Clean, Drained and Dry Before Launch

Big Bear Lake, CA — A Quagga mussel-infested boat was prevented from being launched onto Big Bear Lake because of the pre-launch inspection performed by diligent launch ramp attendants, per a press release issued by the Big Bear Municipal Water District: “The boat showed up at Pine Knot Landing after spending three months in Lake Mojave on the Colorado River. Certified Quagga Mussel Inspector John Bishop at the private marina noted water draining from the boat’s outdrive when it was lowered. Because of this, combined with the knowledge that the boat had recently been in mussel-contaminated waters, the inspector refused to allow the boat to be launched and instead sent it to the Carol Morrison East Public Launch Ramp for a more thorough inspection. Big Bear Municipal Water District Launch Ramp Supervisor Tyler Cockrell and Ramp Attendant Stacy Marquardt performed a detailed inspection and observed thousands of tiny, pinhead-sized Quagga Mussels covering the boat. The boat was then quarantined at the District offices.
The District provides Quagga Mussel inspection training annually, free of charge, to all local private marina workers. Private launch ramps at marinas are required to have District-certified inspectors any time boats are being launched or retrieved. When it was discussed at the May 20th MWD Board meeting, Director Skip Suhay noted, ‘This incident highlights the value of local public awareness and the payoff that results when private marinas and the District cooperate to keep Big Bear Lake Quagga Mussel free.’ The District wants to extend a community wide ‘thank you’ to John, Stacy and Tyler for the protection they provided to the lake for many people, both here in Big Bear Valley and throughout Southern California.  Please remember that your boat, float tube, kayak or canoe needs to be ‘Clean, Drained and Dry’ before launching at Big Bear Lake.”

Today’s Dam Inspection Provides “No Concerns Regarding Dam Safety”; MWD Approves Summer Activities on Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, CA – Those in the vicinity of the west end of Big Bear Lake may have noticed divers in the water which, per the Big Bear Municipal Water District, is for an annual inspection of the dam. These inspections were prompted by a crack, discovered three years ago, during a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department dive team training exercise. Since late fall 2008, there has been no indication from these periodic inspections that there are any additional cracks in the dam where two monuments, consisting of two stainless steel bolts, straddle the crack in the upstream side of the Big Bear Dam. As MWD General Manager Scott Heule tells KBHR, “As of noon today [April 19], and after about two hours of dive time, no concerns regarding dam safety or adverse changes in crack dimensions were observed, according to the district’s engineer. The district’s engineer, MWH Americas, indicates that their report of the divers’ inspection findings will be available for the Board of Directors’ review within about four to six weeks.” Heule notes that, provided the weather cooperates, the dive team will move to the site of the old dam tomorrow, to document its condition and accessibility for purposes of possible future lake management activities; they will also attempt to remove some debris that is said to be located on the upstream side of the old dam.
In other news from the MWD, the agency that oversees the lake, a proposal from MWH was approved on Thursday, during the MWD Board’s regular meeting; per Heule, MWH will be asked to provide additional consulting services as the district navigates the growing complexities of local lake management, and state and federal TMDL regulations. The April 15 meeting of the MWD also included lake permit approval for the Big Bear Paddlefest (on July 10 and 11), Jazz Trax (for three days starting June 18), the Big Bear TroutfesT (in October’s first weekend), and lakeshore access from B’s Backyard BBQ for the summer weekday program of the U.S. Adaptive Recreation Center.
Update: Diving will continue as planned today, April 20.

MWD Board Unanimously Adopts New Lake Ordinance Pertaining to Non-Marina Kayak Rentals

Big Bear Lake, CA — The updated Big Bear Lake ordinance, as it pertains to non-marina kayak rentals, was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the Big Bear Municipal Water District at their April meeting, which took place on the 1st. As adopted, explains MWD General Manager Scott Heule, “The big piece on Ordinance 43 allows the kayak rental businesses to continue renting to customers but prohibits them from conducting any commercial activities on the lake, meaning they cannot provide instruction, training or tours unless they are conducting that business at a commercial marina. That is the gist. In the future, by next boating season, they will be able to secure a commercial permit from the district that would allow them to do those things.” Prior to making this decision, the MWD Board considered public input, dating back to last summer and including a community workshop in October. In other news from the MWD, which launched boating season on the lake just days ago, on April 1st, Heule reports that just two boats entered the water on day one and yesterday, April 5, the public boat launch ramps closed early, at 10am, due to the snowstorm and wind event. Despite a slow-go for boating season’s first week, Heule notes that fishermen are catching their limit of hungry trout on Big Bear Lake; that limit is five trout per fisherman per day.

Boating Season on Big Bear Lake Launches April 1st

Big Bear Lake, CA — April 1st marks the official launch of boating season on Big Bear Lake, and the Big Bear Municipal Water District will re-open both the boat launch ramps on the North Shore, which have been closed over the winter months in order to serve as an American Bald Eagle habitat area. As of Thursday, the Carol Morrison East Boat Launch Ramp (just west of Stanfield Cutoff) will be open from 6am to 6pm seven days a week, with hours to be extended later in the season; the Duane Boyer West Boat Launch Ramp (just west of Fawnskin) will be open from 6am to 2pm in the month of April. All vessels on the lake will need to have a permit, available from the MWD offices on Lakeview Drive, the launch ramps and marinas on Big Bear Lake. Per Lake Supervisor Travis Carroll, any vessel with a motor will be charged $90 for a seasonal permit, whereas the cost for a non-registered vessel, which includes non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes and rowboats, as well as float tubes and sailboards, is $45 per season. “One thing we did change with those,” adds Carroll, “is that the price has been reduced, per our Board of Directors, from $25 to $15 for a one-day use pass.” This year, non-registered vessels, like all other boats, will need to have a Quagga Mussel inspection prior to launch; free inspections are available where lake permits can be purchased. Explains Carroll, “We want to have a face-to-face with everyone at least one time.” Another change in this boating season is that, per the state’s Department of Boating and Waterways, children under age 13 must wear a life jacket when on a boat or vessel that is 26 feet or less in length, and every person on board a jet ski is also required to wear a life jacket. “Just remember to boat safely,” reminds Carroll, “and know that the water temperatures are still extremely cold. Lake Patrol is still on limited hours through the month of April, meaning only on the weekends. For emergencies, always remember to call 911 and the MWD at 866-5796.”
In other news from the MWD, their Board of Directors convene on Thursday, April 1 at 1pm, during which time they will vote on adoption of updated ordinances pertaining to commercial operations on the lake.

Municipal Water District to Adopt Non-Marina Kayak Rental Policy and Re-Address Old Gas Leak

Big Bear Lake, CA — The Big Bear Municipal Water District has been addressing the issue of non-marina kayak rentals for use on Big Bear Lake for many months now. Commercial marina operators first brought the issue before the MWD, which then culled public input at a workshop in October. Since that time, the MWD’s Operations Committee, made up of MWD Directors Skip Suhay and Vince Smith, have reviewed marina contracts and public input, as well as consulting attorneys, to determine a fair method of allowing for vessel rental businesses while also honoring existing contracts and yet carrying out the MWD’s responsibility to provide the public with easy access to Big Bear Lake and attendant amenities. Per the Operations Committee’s findings, MWD General Manager Scott Heule explains, “The district has no ability to regulate businesses over the high water line of the lake. But once these rental businesses cross the high water line or enter district property, then there will be requirements, either for a concession permit or they’ll need to collaborate with a licensed commercial marina.” At the MWD Board of Directors meeting on February 18, there was public comment both for and against the proposed recommendation and, Heule concedes, marina owners were not in favor of the proposal. However, the MWD Board, now overseen by President Paula Fashempour, accepted the recommendation that will, essentially, allow for vessel rentals from non-marina businesses though, if these operations include launching or training rental customers on Big Bear Lake, a permit will need to be secured from the MWD unless these rental businesses partner with a licensed marina. Heule adds, “Amendments to resolutions will need to be voted on, which we’re hoping will be at our March 4 meeting, because the boat ramps open on April 1.”
In other news from Thursday’s MWD meeting, the Board authorized additional engineering work to address an old gas leak under the Big Bear Marina parking lot; this gas contamination, from an underground fuel tank line, pre-dates both the marina and the MWD’s ownership of the property on Lakeview Drive. “There’s no indication that it has seeped into the lake,” notes Heule, “however, we will be doing some soil sampling in the marina in the next six to eight weeks.” The $6,000 in engineering preparation for the groundwater remediation trench, to be reimbursed by the state’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund, is at the direction of the Regional Water Quality Control Board as earlier methods of mitigation proved ineffective. Adds Heule, “Rather than literally digging up thousands of cubic yards of soil to mitigate the issue, we will try this one last method.”

MWD Extends Dock Length Allowance for Eagle Point Area; Test Policy in Place for 2010

Those with boat docks in the Eagle Point area will be given opportunity to extend those boat docks in the coming year, given Municipal Water District Board approval for the new test policy in their meeting on Thursday. At present, all Big Bear Lake dock lengths are to be within the 70 foot regulation, though for calendar year 2010, MWD will allow lakeshore docks, from Swim Beach east to Eagle Point Estates, to extend to 125 feet, with an additional 50% cost on top of the existing annual fee of $310. Per Lake Manager Mike Stephenson, if two neighboring docks extend to 200 feet, which will be allowable in the test policy area in 2010, each dock owner will be charged the $310 annual fee, without the additional cost for single docks extending beyond the standard 70 feet; three neighboring docks sharing a gangway will be allowed up to 300 feet, if not into navigable water, which will be determined by MWD staff. In other news from the MWD meeting of December 17, the MWD Board of Directors, under the direction of President Todd Murphy, also agreed to an $8,000 expenditure, to be taken from the Lake Improvement fund, to provide 50% of matching costs for bear-proof trash cans along the North Shore. The other portion of funds will be provided by the U.S. Forest Service, through a grant, in order to place these 11 bear-proof receptacles on the Forest Service land utilized by MWD for public launch ramps and lake parking. Though the Forest Service will install the new trash cans, as part of the agreement allowing parking at the ramps (without the requirement of an Adventure Pass), the MWD staff perform trash service on the North Shore.

Boat Launch Ramps Closed for Season to Allow for American Bald Eagle Habitat

December is for the birds—at least insomuch as the Municipal Water District’s boat launch ramps are concerned. As of today, December 1, and through March 31, both the Carol Morrison East Boat Launch Ramp, on the North Shore at Stanfield Cutoff, and the Duane Boyer West Boat Launch Ramp, just west of Fawnskin, on Big Bear Lake are closed to boats and vehicles, per an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, which designates these areas as a sensitive eagle habitat. During the winter months, American Bald Eagles come to Big Bear, as lakes within the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains are along the Pacific Migratory Flyway for millions of ducks, which are food for the eagles. The U.S. Forest Service conducts eagle counts in the Big Bear Valley during the winter months, as they have done since 1978, and last winter season’s final count resulted in five eagles for our area. In the 1983/84 season, as many as 28 eagles were spotted in the Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake areas.

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