DWP Board Awards Pipeline Projects

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 28, 2012, 8:00am – The Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners awarded three pipeline contracts at the March 14th Special Board Meeting. The contracts amount to about 29,000 feet of replacement pipelines throughout Big Bear Valley. The DWP will also release two additional construction contracts. The pipelines being replaced are undersized and aging. The new pipelines will provide enhanced fire protection. Also, water mainline leaks will be reduced so DWP staff will be able to focus more on proactive maintenance projects rather than reactive maintenance. Weather permitting, construction of the three pipeline projects will begin the middle of April and they could be completed and in operation by August, before the next fire season. The three new wells will enable the DWP to meet water demands during busy holiday time periods. Some of DWP’s older wells have recently been taken out of service and these new wells will replace the older pumping plants with modern, more efficient pumping units. The DWP has secured $7.2 million in low interest loans and grants to provide the funding for these projects ($5 million in low interest USDA loans, $1 million in USDA grants, and $1.2 million in EPA grants).

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Help the Community Gardens Win $10,000

Big Bear, Ca, January 18, 2012, 12:00pm - The Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power along with Robbie Bos and the Community Gardens project are teaming up to make the China Gardens and Drought Tolerant Demonstration garden a reality here in the Big Bear Valley.  Currently the DWP has entered the Community Gardens Project into a contest that could provide the project with $10,000.  The gardens on Fox Farm Rd will include a fruit tree orchard as well as nearly 40 community plots where individuals and families can plant, maintain and grow the gardens of their choice. It also includes a plot where vegetables will be grown and distributed to social support organizations such as churches and food banks. The gardens will also feature a green house for germination and winter crops, a three stage composting system, water storage tank, ADA raised beds, and a community education area. To help the garden project receive $10,000 you can vote everyday through March 15^th. Go to www.iuowawards.com and search for China Garden. Click to vote and you’re done!

DWP Offers New Features, Technology And Expanded Community Resources Through A Redesigned Website

Big Bear Lake, CA, January 13, 2011, 3:00pm - The City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water recently launched its new website. The new site reflects the personality of the Big Bear Valley while incorporating a host of new and improved features and functionality. The new site is easy to navigate and breaks down information for customers and visitors into My Account, My Community, My Water Supply and My Water Department. You can request free indoor audits, report a leak or set up auto-pay on your account. Information goes well beyond water management and includes emergency preparedness, information on upcoming projects and a community calendar. In addition to emergency information, a new “E-Notify” option on the homepage allows visitors to sign up to receive alerts from specific departments about special events, bidding on contracts, public meetings, job opportunities and a variety of other activities. You can choose to be notified via email or mobile phone text message. General Manager Reggie Lamson says the site is intended to be “more than a place to pay your bills”, it’s also a place “where people can find community events on the calendar, request a speaker for club meetings, or learn about what they should do if they think their pipes are frozen.” Along with functionality comes fun stuff like a photo gallery and postcard module that allows people to send virtual postcards featuring scenes from around the valley. Community members are invited to submit their best photos for consideration. Local organizations are encouraged to submit events for the community calendar and information for the Resource Directory. Visit the new website at www.bbldwp.com.

Reggie Lamson Named New GM at Department of Water & Power

Big Bear, Ca, November 18, 2011, 12:00pm -

The City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water has hired a new General Manager.  Reginald “Reggie” Lamson has been a Big Bear resident for 15 years and brings with him nearly 27 years of knowledge and experience in the water industry.  “I am really looking forward to this opportunity, to being able to work in this community where I live,” Lamson says.  His wife Lyndi is a former Bear Valley School District employee, and their children, Meagin, Brittany and Taylor, all graduated from Big Bear High. Lamson currently serves as the Assistant General Manager of the Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company.  “The DWP is looking forward to having Reggie on board as we move forward on our Capital Improvement Plan as well as the allocation of over $5 million in grant funds for pipeline replacement and well improvements,” explained Steve Foulkes, DWP Board Chairman. “We have a lot of fantastic pipeline projects and are proud to welcome someone with such a breadth of experience to this position” he continued. Lamson is also involved in the community as a mountain bike racer for team Bear Valley Bikes.

DWP Acquisition Off The Table

Big Bear, Ca, July 21, 2011, 10:30am - The acquisition of the City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power by the Municipal Water District, which has been undergoing an evaluation process for the past three months was terminated at the MWD’s meeting on July 21^st.  According to General Manager of the MWD, Scott Huele, the District Board identified four conditions they wanted to see satisfied to finalize the acquisition process. These conditions included a significant cost savings to the DWP and its customers, create efficiencies of scale – eliminating a layer of government in the valley, the resulting structure would be neutral or beneficial to the employees joining the District from the DWP, and the final condition was to not detract from the operation of the DWP or MWD.  After many meetings the MWD Board determined that organizational compromises required of the District as a consequence of the acquisition would negatively impact the mission of the District, as the impact on the District with the new structure of a shared general manager would require a significant reorganization of personnel and jobs.   Therefore the Municipal Water District and the Department of Water and Power will continue to operate as separate entities.

 

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MWD Moves Forward With DWP Aquisition & Makes Plans For Trout Pond

Big Bear, Ca, June 17, 2011, 1:00pm - The Municipal Water District Board of Directors decided on July 16^th that it would move forward in acquiring the Department of Water and Power.  Board Members authorized council to begin drafting paperwork to file imminent domain on the DWP.  Both organizations, including the Big Bear Lake City Council are in favor of the absorption of the DWP by the MWD.  At the meeting, board members of the MWD also approved a balanced budget, and approved an additional $100,000 towards herbicide for milfoil treatment.  Milfoil is an invasive species, or waterweed that has become more abundant this year due to the increased water levels.  The MWD also approved the trout pond clean up plan which consists of demolishing the bait shack, remove abandoned vehicles from the property, clear the property of debris and trash, drain the pond and identify the amount of sediment that needs to be removed from the pond.  Long term ideas and goals for the pond include excavating the sediment from the pond, develop warm or cold fish rearing habitats to allow for different types of fish, and possibly develop an onsite regionally connected trail system.  The trout pond was acquired by the MWD last year.

 

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DWP Board Members Stay The Same

Big Bear, Ca, June 17, 2011, 12:00pm - The City of Big Bear Lake City Council met on June 16^th in a special meeting to discuss, and appoint board members to the Department of Water and Power Board of Directors.   Council members decided to keep current sitting board members in their place to keep continuity on the board while the DWP and the Municipal Water District go through the motions of becoming one organization.  Bob Tarras, Steve Foulkes and Bill Giamarino will keep their current seats, they will continue serving with Don Smith and Fred Miller. Mayor Bill Jahn had the following to say about the appointments: “It is great to have consistency when you consider what is going on with the possible merger, its not time to really change horses, and I was happy to see the 3 incumbents re apply.”  The MWD is currently looking into taking on the responsibilities of the DWP in an effort to combine resources, and save taxpayers money.  The DWP board members, and City Council are in favor of combining of resources and responsibilities.

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Update On The Acquistion Of The DWP By The MWD

Big Bear, Ca, April 26, 2011, 4:00pm - The Department of Water and Power, the Big Bear Municipal Water District and the City of Big Bear Lake City Council met on Monday April 25^th to discuss the possible acquisition of the DWP by the MWD.   All three boards in attendance, along with staff members from the agencies, discussed the pro’s and cons of a possible acquisition.  According to Steve Foulkes, chairman of the DWP, the benefits would be streamlined government, savings to water rate payers, better valley wide representation, and an elected board who is responsible to its constituents.  Although not insurmountable, some of the problems, voiced by board members in attendance were the acquisition of the DWP’s debt, where the administration would be housed, and varying regional viewpoints.  In the end it was unanimous by all three boards and their members that this acquisition could be beneficial to the citizens of Big Bear, and requested that the MWD and DWP move in the direction of the MWD acquiring the DWP.    According to Mayor Jahn, “This acquisition is timed well, and is a result of leadership on the DWP, headed by Chairman Steve Foulkes, and the leadership of the MWD, and is an exciting time for everyone who lives in Big Bear.”

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MWD Meeting To Discuss Possible Aquisition of DWP

Big Bear, Ca, April 20, 2011, 3:00pm - The Big Bear Municipal Water District, or MWD, will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, April 21st at 1:00pm at the MWD offices located on Lakeview Drive.  Board members will consider approving a concession permit to Big Kahuna Hot Dogs at the East Ramp, and will consider authorizing staff to engage in discussions with the Department of Water and Power regarding the possible acquisition of the DWP by the MWD.   The board will go into closed session at the end of the meeting to discuss the possible acquisition of the DWP.  Members of the public are encouraged to attend and speak during public comment time.   There will also be a special meeting on Monday, April 25th at 9:00am to conduct a workshop which will include discussion of the possible aquisition of the DWP by the MWD.

DWP Celebrates California Native Plant Week at Local Nurseries

Big Bear, Ca, April 20, 2011, 12:00pm -  This Friday, April 22^ndis Earth Day, and this week is the state’s first California Native Plant Week. To celebrate the Department of Water (DWP) will be giving away information and water conservation goodies at two local nurseries.  DWP staff will be at Hunters Nursery on Fox Farm Road Friday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. then at Emingers Nursery on Big Bear Boulevard from noon to 3 p.m. Staff will be distributing information on native and drought tolerant plants suitable for mountain landscaping. Posted signs will identify ideal native plants for all garden situations. Planting native and drought tolerant species saves large amounts of water, especially in the summertime.  There will be free coloring books and stickers for children, and adults can set up appointments for free water audits in their home and yards.  California Native Plant Week (CNPW) is a week dedicated to the appreciation, education and conservation of California’s fabulous native flora.

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