Southwest Shore Centennial

In 2012 the Big Bear Southwest Shore Colony will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The present Big Bear Dam, which replaced an earlier rock dam, was completed in 1912. About that time several summer cabins were built along the shore on both the north and south side of the dam.  Many of these picturesque cabins are still in existence today, and some are still owned by the same families that built them. The early cabins along the southwest shore form the core of the recreational area known as the Big Bear Southwest Shore Colony. The Southwest Shore Association plans to sponsor several Centennial activities, including a Centennial Dinner on Saturday night, July 7.  At that time we will also unveil the Southwest Shore Centennial Album, which will convey 100 years of history through stories and photos.  Stay tuned for more details.

Eagle Chick Leaves the Nest

The eagle chick that hatched two months ago near Grout Bay in Fawnskin has apparently decided it was time to leave the nest and seek a new home of its own.  On Wednesday the Big Bear Grizzly reported that "Jack" (or is it "Jackie") has been spotted around the Big Bear area, but has not returned to the nest since his departure on April 21.  Read more about the eagle chick in the Grizzly, and see a couple of nice photos by local nature photographers Barbara Jordan and Suzanne Klump.

Cabin Owner "Call to Action" -- Cabin Fee Act

Here is the text of a recent appeal from the C2 Coalition, which is the coalition representing the interests of Forest Service cabin owners on behalf of the Cabin Fee Act. Please read the following information and act promptly to contact your California Senators.

IMPORTANT -- Your Grassroots Efforts are Needed Now

Breaking News: A Senate hearing on S. 1906, the Cabin Fee Act of 2011, has been scheduled for March 22, 2012 before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, chaired by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Coalition 2 is in full preparation mode!

Now is your time to help! Extensive grassroots efforts to contact key Senators are essential to support a successful hearing and passage of the legislation. Although neither of our California Senators are members of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, both Senators Feinstein and Boxer should be contacted and asked to encourage the committee to act promptly and positively to move the bill to passage in the Senate. Our California Senators must hear from you and know you care about the Cabin Fee Act! The message you should convey to our Senators should be consistent and to the point:

  1. Thank Senator Feinstein for her co-sponsorship of S. 1906.
  2. Senate Bill 1906 has been judged to be revenue neutral by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
  3. The bill has genuine bi-partisan support, with the following co-sponsors: Jon Tester [D- MT] (Sponsor), John Barrasso [R-WY], Max Baucus [D-MT], Michael Enzi [R-WY], Dianne Feinstein [D-CA], Charles Grassley [R-IA], and James Risch [R-ID].
  4. Cabin owners have agreed to changes in S. 1906 requested by the Forest Service. Both groups now support the prompt passage of S. 1906.
  5. We ask that this bill be passed out of committee and approved in the full Senate.

This task is simple -- call or email! Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard now at 202.224.3121 and ask for either Senator Feinstein's or Senator Boxer's office. When connected, tell them that your call is about S. 1906, the Cabin Fee Act. You should then be transferred to the staff person who handles natural resources or national forest issues. Convey your personalized message to that person.

Send your emails now at the following links:

Every call or email helps gain support -- please do your part.

Call or email our Senators today!

Note:  In both the Feinstein and Boxer email forms, you need to enter "Topic".  Since there is no choice for "National Forest" or "Forest Service", let's use "Environment" as the topic. Thanks.

2012 Forest Service Billing

Forest Service logo

"I don't know the exact mailing date, but our new billing specialist in the Supervisor's office is working on it, and last I heard they should be out in the next 3-4 weeks."

If we don't start receiving the bills by mid-April, I will check with Katie again.

Eagle Hatched in Big Bear Valley

Grout Bay Picnic Area and Gray's Peak Trail Closed Till June 15 A recently hatched baby bald eagle named Jack is the first successful nesting recorded near Big Bear Lake in recent times, according to an article in the Big Bear Grizzly. The chick was born to a pair of eagles, Lucy and Ricky, who nest near Grout Bay. Eagle habitat areas in Big Bear Valley are closed annually from Dec. 1 to April 1. However, to minimize disturbance to this young eagle, the Forest Service is extending the annual seasonal closure beyond the usual April 1 date to June 15. The Forest Order prohibits entry into Grout Bay Picnic Area, Gray’s Peak Trailhead, Gray’s Peak Trail, and the area directly around the bald eagle nest, to allow the chick to grow and learn to fly without human disturbance.