[Federal Register: October 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 197)]
[Notices]
[Page 58666-58667]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10oc03-55]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Big
Bear Lake ``Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration'', a Feasibility Study, Near
Big Bear City, San Bernardino County, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Impact Statement will address foreseeable
environmental impacts from measures being investigated to include
sediment removal, flood protection, watershed management, shoreline
restoration and habitat restoration at Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino
County, CA, will commence. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Big Bear
Municipal Water District will cooperate in conducting this feasibility
study. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead Federal Agency for this
study.
The Big Bear feasibility study will be conducted over the next
several years following a planning process that will include public
involvement during each of the study phases. The Study may result in a
report recommending that Congress authorize a project for
implementation by the Corps of Engineers, or that measures could be
implemented by another agency to address the problems and needs of the
study area. A range of conceptual alternatives were identified, as
having a potential for Federal interest, to address the problems and
needs of the study area, to include (1) Sediment removal to improve
aquatic habitat and public access; (2) Beneficial uses of sediment,
including island construction; (3) increased flood protection; (4)
Improved watershed management practices to reduce nutrient loading of
Big Bear Lake; (5) Shoreline restoration and Stanfield Marsh
enhancements; (6) Protecting sensitive and endangered species.
No alternatives have been advanced as yet, so contents of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) remain to be determined during
the public scoping process. The portion of this study area includes Big
Bear Lake, and 200 feet upgradient of the shoreline, 6 major
tributaries and 50 feet either side of said tributaries. Big Bear
Municipal Water District has identified, within this watershed, needs
associated with loss of wildlife habitat and changes in the ecosystem
of the lake. Lake water levels, caused by a multi-year drought, and
siltation of the lake have caused changes in the water chemistry and
temperature. Those ecological concerns will guide the formulation of
plans for this segment of the watershed.
DATES: A scoping meeting will be held October 14, 2003, from 6 p.m. to
8 p.m., at Big Bear Lake Civic Center, located at 39707 Big Bear
Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA. The scoping period will conclude November
24, 2003. Comments, concerning this notice, should be submitted to the
address listed below by November 24, 2003.
ADDRESSES: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles
District, ATTN: CESPL-PD-RP, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-
2325.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Timothy Kennedy, Environmental
Coordinator, telephone (213) 452-9878, or Mrs. Deborah Lamb, Study
Manager, telephone (213) 452-3798. The cooperating entity, Big Bear
Municipal Water District, requests inquiries to Ms. Sheila Hamilton,
General Manager, telephone (909) 866-5796, for any additional
information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization
This study is being conducted in accordance with the study
resolution adopted by the committee on Public Works, House of
Representatives, adopted May 8, 1964, authorizing the study of the
Santa Ana River Basin and Orange County Streams (SARBOC), CA. In
addition, specific directive language was provided by Congress within
the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, 2002, which reads
as follows: ``Santa Ana River and Tributaries, Big Bear Lake, CA--The
bill includes $100,000 for the Corps of Engineers to undertake a
reconnaissance study of environmental restoration, water quality and
related issues at Big Bear Lake, CA.'' Funds in the amount of $100,000
were appropriated in Fiscal Year 2002 to conduct the reconnaissance
phase of the study, under the title Santa Ana River and Tributaries,
Big Bear Lake, CA.
2. Background
Waters of Big Bear Creek originate in adjacent mountains to the
north and south of Big Bear Lake. Big Bear Lake drains to the west into
Big Bear Creek, then turns southwestward and becomes part of the Santa
Ana River watershed. Since before the late 16th century when the
Spanish explored the southwest, the river ran continuously all the way
to the Pacific Ocean. Where underlying bedrock along its course forced
water to the surface, Big Bear Creek was perennial. Historically,
reliable surface flows along the river could be found intermittently in
Big Bear Valley, to southeastern parts of what is now metropolitan Los
Angeles. Subsurface flow, within Big Bear Valley, sustained a riparian
community in and around Big Bear Lake, historically a natural lake,
before it was dammed in 1884. Year-round water supplied the needs of
Big Bear. In 1912 a more modern, and taller, dam was constructed 100
yards down stream from the original 1884 dam. This changed the water
impoundment from 25,280 acre feet to more than 73,000 acre feet.
This DEIS will evaluate: (1) Sediment removal to improve aquatic
habitat and public access; (2) Beneficial uses of sediment, including
island construction; (3) increased flood protection; (4) Improved
watershed management practices to reduce nutrient loading of Big Bear
Lake; (5) Shoreline restoration and Stanfield Marsh enhancements; (6)
Protecting sensitive and endangered species.
Prehistoric and historic cultural resources may be found along this
stretch of the lake basin. The study team will comply with all
applicable consultation rules as set forth in National Historic
Preservation Act. Federally protected species and critical habitat will
be considered.
3. Proposed Action
No plan of action has yet been identified.
[[Page 58667]]
4. Alternatives
a--No Action: No improvement or reinforcement of existing banks or
uplands to stabilize for sedimentation.
b--Proposed Alternative Plans: None have been formulated to date.
5. Scoping Process
Participation of all interested Federal, State and County resource
agencies, as well as Native American peoples, groups with environmental
interests, and all interested individuals are encouraged. Public
involvement will be most beneficial and worthwhile in identifying
pertinent environmental issues, offering useful information such as
published or unpublished data, direct personal experience or knowledge
which inform decision making, assistance in defining the scope of plans
which ought to be considered, and recommending suitable mitigation
measures warranted by such plans. Those wishing to contribute
information, ideas, alternatives for actions, and so forth can furnish
these contributions in writing to the points of contacts indicated
above, or by attending public scoping opportunities.
The scoping period will conclude 45 days after publication of this
notice and simultaneous publication in newspapers circulated in the Big
Bear Lake area (see Dates).
When plans have been devised, and alternatives formulated to embody
those plans, potential impacts will be evaluated in the DEIS. These
assessments will emphasize at least fourteen categories of resources:
land use, impromptu historic landfills, hazardous wastes, physical
environment, hydrology, groundwater, biological, archaeological,
geological, air quality, noise, transportation, socioeconomic, and
safety.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-25759 Filed 10-9-03; 8:45 am]