Fast, Reliable Internet Service?

An ongoing dilemma at the Southwest Shore seems to be the lack of fast, reliable internet service. Once again we would like to start a group discussion about the internet service alternatives that work best in the Southwest Shore. Please take a few minutes to leave a comment below, and tell us how you get your internet service in the Southwest Shore. Is your cell phone reception strong enough to use your phone as a "hot spot" to provide internet access to computers and tablets? Do you have some type of amplifier to boost your cell phone signal? Do you get internet service via Dish Network or Direct TV? Do you have some form of DSL service through your landline phone? Please let us know what you are using, how satisfied you are, some idea of the installation and monthly costs, and any other information you think might be helpful. Thanks in advance for your willingness to share your experiences and insights.

USDA Forest Service Annual Permit Fees

By now all cabin owners should have received and paid the 2017 Forest Service Annual Permit invoices. If you did not receive an invoice from USDA Forest Service, we suggest you immediately contact  Scott Evans, our Forest Service Special Uses Coordinator (909-382-2802 or saevans@fs.fed.us). If you have not yet paid your annual Forest Service Annual Permit fee, we suggest that you pay it as soon as possible, to avoid issues and additional charges. The Cabin Fee Act is now in effect and stabilized, so there appear to be no outstanding unresolved issues. At this point the only future fee increase allowed under the CFA is an annual adjustment for inflation. There are no more time-consuming, costly, and controversial appraisals involved in the fee determination process. For more information please follow this link to read "Cabin Fee Act - 2017 Update" on the National Forest Homeowners (NFH) website.

Speaking of National Forest Homeowners, the NFH organization continues to do excellent work on behalf of the owners, families, and friends of the almost 14,000 cabins that are part of the federal Recreation Residence Program on National Forest System land across the country. We encourage you to visit the NFH website (NationalForestHomeowners.org) for current information on the implementation of the Cabin Fee Act, as well as other issues that are important to Forest Service cabin owners. You might also consider becoming a member of NFH, as a way to offer your financial support the organization.

2016 Brush Clearance Project

During the summer our Association once again sponsored the annual Brush Clearance Project to gather and remove brush, shrubbery, tree limbs, slash, and other forest debris that constitute a fire hazard. The project was completed and the brush piles hauled away in October 2016 after many of you had already closed your cabins for the season. Dennis Moran (Cabin 84) and Rick Krugh (Cabin 38) organized the project, and through their efforts we were able to take advantage of a USFS grant that provides funds for projects to maintain healthy forests and reduce fire fuels. The Brush Clearance Project was completed at no cost to our Southwest Shore Association or its members. Thanks, Dennis and Rick, for your excellent work on behalf of all the Southwest Shore families and friends. Thanks, also, to all the cabin owners, families and friends who did their part to clear brush and debris from their cabin areas to help keep our local forest healthy and safe. 

Now, About Them Cougars...

Hello, Southwest Shore Families and Friends,

Reminding us again that our cabins are part of the forest, in addition to the recent bear activity observed on the SW Shore, we have a very recent filmed sighting (by a “surveillance cam” operating by motion detector) of a mountain lion in the Keystone Point area in the middle of the night.  It was a fleeting partial shot, but certainly appeared to be a cougar, and has been identified as such with 95%+ certainty by a game expert.  This cougar was alone – as expected since cougars are solitary creatures who meet with other adult cougars only to mate.  Also the camera sighting at night was not surprising since cougars are primarily nocturnal and most active at dusk and dawn.

What is unusual is that this mountain lion was observed at all, since they are very secretive, avoid humans, are primarily nocturnal and are therefore rarely sighted by humans – despite their presence in all mountain areas of Southern California, including the Santa Monica, San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto ranges.  They live by hunting deer and a wide variety of smaller animals.

Some comforting facts:  The risk of any of you being killed by a mountain lion is statistically much lower than the risk of being killed by your own pet dog, or drowning in your bathtub, or dying from a snake bite, bee sting, or lightning strike.

Having said that, mountain lions are such formidable creatures (weighing up to 200 lbs., capable of sprinting 35-45 mph, and leaping horizontally for 30 to 40 feet and vertically for 15 to 20 feet) that we should be aware of best practices in the extremely unusual event of confronting one.  A review of the literature tells us that the safest mode of hiking or walking is in groups (especially if small children are present), and the most successful response is to slowly back away while maintaining eye contact.  The results are marginally worse for those who instead choose to freeze, or throw rocks, or run (unless you are very fast and have a very short and unobstructed distance to a safe spot).  It is a good idea to keep pets indoors at night and on leash when outdoors – and as with the bears, do not leave any food or refuse outside the cabin or accessible. 

Again, it is unlikely in the extreme that any of us will ever sight or confront a cougar, even if one is moving through the area, so covering these safety suggestions is just for background and general information.

Dick Fisher
July 20, 2016

Note: The photo is not "our" cougar. The photo was obtained from the High Desert Museum, Bend, OR (www.highdesertmuseum.org)

SWS Operating Plan and Architectural Standards - July 1, 1998

Too many boring documents! We hear you, but we also know that these "boring documents" govern the operations and maintenance of our Southwest Shore Colony. The new Forest Service Handbook - Special Uses Supplement, as well as our own Southwest Shore Operating Plan and Architectural Standards, are the two key documents that define  for the policies, procedures, activities, restrictions, and mutual obligations that enable the Southwest Shore community and Forest Service personnel to work together toward productive management and enjoyment of our Southwest Shore Colony.

The provisions of the Southwest Shore Operating Plan and Architectural Standards are critically important to our ability to maintain our historic district status, which in turn protects us against any Federal actions that are inconsistent with the Plan. The Forest Service has accepted the SWS Operating Plan as an integral part of its administrative guidelines, and has actually incorporated the Southwest Shore Plan into our Special Use Permits by reference.

As a reminder of the topics covered by the Plan, here is the Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Permits Required for All Projects
• General Requirements
• Landscape
• Roads, Gates, and Road Signs
• Cabin Signs
• Lighting
• General Appearance and Storage
• Care of Basic Cabin Structure, Siding, and Related Repairs
• Care of Wood Surfaces -- Protective Coatings, Preservatives, Stains, Colors
• Porches
• Roofs and Roofing Material
• Windows and Doors
• Stonework
• Interiors
• Violations -- Permit Revocaqtions
• Public Access

Please follow this link to view the entire Southwest Shore Colony Operating Plan and Architectural Appearance Standards. We encourage you to print our a copy for convenient reference. 

New Forest Service Special Uses Handbook Supplement

Another Forest Service document -- why should you care? To paraphrase a popular slogan, "FS documents matter," but this one may actually matter more than most. The Forest Service Handbook (FSH), and specifically Chapter 40 of that document, details the policies and guidelines that govern the construction, maintenance, and use of recreation residences on National Forest lands, administered by the Forest Service. In short, the FSH governs our cabins in the Southwest Shore. Therefore, it is important that we know what it says! Follow this link to look at the document as you continuing reading this post.

Effective July 1, 2016, the new FSH Supplement clarifies or implements a number of important changes. Roy Glauthier, past president of NFH and frequent at our Annual Meetings, has identified the following items as among the most important changes:

• Abandonment [41.23.3.b] Allows abandoned cabins and improvements that become property of the United States to be “sold, destroyed or otherwise disposed of.” This provides clear authority for sale or auction of abandoned cabins.
• Achieving Compliance with Building Requirements [41.23e.3] This paragraph recognizes that cabins may not comply with the described requirements for appearance and structure, but specifies that they should be brought into compliance only when “…opportunities develop during replacement, maintenance or reconstruction affecting the noncompliant issue,…”
• Seasonal removal of boats and storage of kayaks and canoes [41.23f.6] New language removes requirement for seasonal removal of boats, and allows kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized recreational equipment to be stored in or under permitted structures.
• Cabin size [41.23g.2.b] Limits square footage of new or reconstructed cabins to a maximum of 1,400 square feet, which may be limited by factors such as environmental, visual, and historic resources. “Reduction in size of existing authorized cabins is not required prior to permit issuance.”
• Height [41.23g.2.c] On reasonably level lots, cabins shall be no more than 26 feet from the ground to the peak, or the limit in county ordinances, whichever is less. Additional language in this section is intended to simplify what has been a confusing requirement.
• Decks, Porches and Patios [41.23g.2.d] This section clarifies allowable deck size. Importantly, new language specifies that historic value must be considered before changes are made to previously authorized decks/porches/patios.
• Garages [41.23g.2.f] Previously authorized detached garages shall be continued except for specific situations.

Please note that the above excerpts are only a small portion of the complete update. Read the new FSH Supplement carefully, taking special notice of items that pertain to your specific cabin situation.

About Them Bears...

As you have probably heard, there has been at least one black bear (they actually may be red, brown or black in color) foraging around our cabins this summer, and the drought may attract others from the high country down to the lake. The recent bear representative visiting the area is probably a juvenile (only about 150-170 lbs), who has not yet established a territory.  Our quick research reveals the following information:

The San Bernardino Mountains were California grizzly bear territory until that species was exterminated by man in the early 1900's. Black bears were first introduced to these mountains in the 1930's when "problem bears" from Yosemite Park were relocated here. There is now a stable, permanent population of descendants of those Yosemite bears, living in the forests of Big Bear. These bears become quite large (500 lbs.), are a protected species, have great predatory powers and speed, and like to eat meat as well as plants -- but they do not, we are pleased to report, hunt human prey or normally pose a threat to humans. Very shy of humans, they enter settled areas to find garbage and other food that they associate with human habitation. They can be very dangerous, however, particularly in the following circumstances:

• If the bear loses its natural shyness by too much human contact and by being fed by humans, it is likely to associate cabins with food, and may break into cabins or otherwise become aggressive with humans. This human-induced bear misbehavior will result in Fish and Game wardens eventually killing the nuisance bear to protect the offending humans – an unfair but common result;
• If the bear, based on its extraordinarily keen sense of smell (which can extend for miles), mistakes you for prepared food because of food odors on you or your clothing (e.g., some campers have been mauled while sleeping outside after handling food and/or wearing clothing which was worn while cooking);
• If the bear and your dog have a hostile confrontation, the bear easily may kill the dog, or may chase the dog, and the dog may thus lead the angry bear back to your cabin, at which time your animal-management skills will be severely tested. Best not to permit your dog to wander;
• If the bear is surprised or scared by your unexpected presence, particularly if it feels cornered. You should make noises when you are hiking, so that bears can avoid you;
• If a mother bear thinks that you may be bothering her cub in any way, or coming between her and her cub, she will become aroused and aggressive. Young bears, cute as they may be, therefore pose a special danger to humans and are to be avoided, because there is usually a cranky and protective mother bear nearby; and
• If, upon encountering a bear, you make sudden movements or turn and run, you may trigger an aggressive “chase” response by the bear. If possible, back away slowly, at the same time taking care not to come nearer to a cub or between a bear and its cub. Depending on the circumstances, making loud noises such as clanging metal plates may scare off the bear.

The paramount rule for peaceful co-existence with bears is "do not to feed them in any way." Do not leave food (including bird seed) or garbage in a place where it may attract bear attention or entry. Do not throw or bury garbage outside the cabin, and do not store it outside, even in closed trash cans. And do not rely upon screen doors to deter bear entry to garbage or exposed food.

Considerations similar to the above also apply to bobcats and other large predators, who may also occasionally visit the SW Shore Colony in search of water and food.

Submitted by Dick Fisher, based on a previous Southwest Shore advisory notice dated September 10, 1996.

2016 Annual Meeting Agenda

Please join us for the 2016 Southwest Shore Annual Meeting on Saturday, July 2, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at our usual spot on Keystone Point. Please bring your own chairs, hats, sun screen, and beverages. We will provide updates on the latest news and activities at the Southwest Shore. In particular, Betsy Curley and Laurie Large will give us the latest details on the upcoming SWS Summer Celebration on July 30. If you have questions, or would like to help with the party, this is your chance to join in. Here is the preliminary agenda of topics to be discussed at the meeting:

• Update from National Forest Homeowners (NFH) Association
• Review of current "SWS Operating Plan and Architectural Standards"
• Forest Service Approval for Cabin Improvements
• New Forest Service Personnel
• Annual Brush Removal Project
• BBMWD Lake Permit Procedures for Kayaks, Canoes, and other small craft
• Update on Emergency Services contact information
• SWS Financial Report
• Update on Summer Celebration Party

 
If you would like to refresh your memory about last year's Annual Meeting, the Minutes of the 2015 meeting are available on our SWS website. Please join us in person for this year's Annual Meeting.