SCH Number 2022110595

Project Info

Title

Replenish Big Bear Program

Description

Replenish Big Bear includes permitting, design, and construction of an Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) at the existing BBARWA Wastewater Treatment Plant (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.

2 documents in project