Replenish Big Bear Program
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022110595
Lead Agency
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
(BBARWA)
Document Title
Replenish Big Bear Program
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
2/28/2025
Document Description
Big Bear Area Wastewater Agency, as lead agency, and in partnership with Big Bear City Community Services District, Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power, and Big Bear Municipal Water District propose the Program. The Program includes permitting, design, and construction of an Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) at the existing BBARWA WWTP, about 6.59 miles of pipeline for Program Water and reverse osmosis (RO), brine minimization, three pump stations, groundwater recharge, and up to four monitoring wells to implement a Program that would retain recycled water in the Big Bear Valley for beneficial use to increase the sustainability of local water supplies. The Program is currently estimated to produce approximately 1,950 acre-feet per year (AFY) of high-quality Program Water, and may produce up to 2,200 AFY by 2040 through utilization of a high-recovery brine minimization technology. The Program includes the following uses and benefits:
• Sustain Stanfield Marsh Habitat and Increase Educational Opportunities: By providing a consistent water source to Stanfield Marsh through the discharge of Program Water to Stanfield Marsh, the habitat therein would be sustained, and educational opportunities for the community and visitors would be created;
• Enhance Big Bear Lake Benefits: The Program would discharge Program Water to Stanfield Marsh, allowing the Program Water to flow through Stanfield Marsh and provide new inflow to Big Bear Lake. The Program will increase inflows and Lake level, thereby enhancing recreational opportunities and aquatic habitat in both Big Bear Lake and Stanfield Marsh, and would support water quality improvements;
• Expand Local Water Supplies: When there is space in the groundwater basin to increase water levels and there is available Program Water stored in Big Bear Lake, Program Water could be pumped to Sand Canyon to recharge the groundwater basin to strengthen the sustainability of the groundwater basin;
• Sustain Unarmored Threespine Stickleback Fish with Program Water: To sustain the habitat for the Federally listed Unarmored Threespine Stickleback (Stickleback) fish with a new sustainable water source, Program Water will be discharged to Shay Pond in place of potable groundwater.
Contact Information
Name
Bridgette Burton
Agency Name
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA)
Job Title
Administrative Services Manager / Board Secretary
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Big Bear City
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Palomino Dr/Shay Road, Aeroplane Blvd/Meadow Ln/Division Dr, Lassen Dr/Primrose Dr, Sand Cyn Rd
Zip
92314
Total Acres
100+
State Highways
Sr-18 and SR-38
Airports
Big Bear City Airport
Schools
Big Bear High School
Waterways
Big Bear Lake / Baldwin Lake / Shay Pond
Township
2N
Range
3E
Section
7
Base
SBBM
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
San Bernardino
Final Environmental Document Available at
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency 121 Palomino Drive Big Bear City, CA 92314 and online at: https://www.replenishbigbear.com/eir-process
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
Yes
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
Yes
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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