[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58666-58667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25759]


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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]
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