San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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Land Management Plan Part 2 San Bernardino National Forest Strategy September 2005 habitat. Several million gallons of sewage effluent are exported from the basin to the desert via an outfall line. The national forest is working with the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency to treat this water and keep it in the basin. A small amount of locatable mineral potential (dolomite) exists in the northwestern portion of the Big Bear Place. One small area is under claim for gold mining. Pinyon-juniper woodland, Jeffrey pine forest, and mixed conifer and subalpine forests are found here. One of the two quaking aspen groves in southern California and the Champion lodgepole pine occur here. Drought induced mortality in Jeffrey pine forest is occurring at a high rate, raising the risk of wildland fire. There is potential for stand replacing fires and type conversion in the pinyon -juniper woodland within the unit, as large acreages of this vegetation type have burned (and re-burned) to the north and east. Community defense zones are needed to protect the communities of Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, Fawnskin, Moonridge, Sugarloaf, Baldwin Lake, Erwin Lake and Lake Williams. Firewood collection is an important local use here. No livestock grazing allotments are present. An unusually large number of federally listed plant and animal species and Region 5 sensitive species are found here. Big Bear Lake is home to the largest population of wintering bald eagles in southern California and provides year round habitat for waterfowl. Shay Meadow and Baldwin Lake support the only remaining natural population on the national forest of an endangered fish, the unarmored three-spine stickleback. Nesting pairs of southwestern willow flycatcher occur within the Place. Bear Creek is one of two designated State of California Wild Trout Streams on the national forest and also supports suitable habitat for southwestern willow flycatcher. Nesting pairs of California spotted owls are present within forested habitats and the area is one of a few locations in the southern California national forests where common nighthawks, gray vireos, and gray flycatchers breed. An important habitat linkage for conifer forest dependent species is present from Sugarlump Mountain south into the San Gorgonio Place. Ecologically unique plant communities found on pebble plain, carbonate substrate and montane meadow habitat support plant and invertebrate species found nowhere else in the world. The entire range of the Bear Valley bladderpod occurs here and designated Critical Habitat for this plant is present. Five of the six occurrences of the pedate checker-mallow known on National Forest System land occur here and one of only two occurrences of the slender-petaled mustard on National Forest System land is present. Effects to listed species and their habitats from high levels of recreation use are a concern here. High concentrations of prehistoric and historic heritage resources are found here along with some of the oldest habitatation sites on the national forest. Natural features, such as Baldwin Lake and Pan Hot springs figure prominently in Native American creation stories and legends. The protection and interpretation of these sites is an ongoing concern. Access is via California State Highways 18, and 38 (Rim of the World Scenic Byway), with a large network of classified roads and trails providing access throughout the Place. Unauthorized routes originating from private lands adjacent to the national forest boundary and the increased use of mountain bikes off of roads and trails are of concern here. National Forest System lands contribute a significant portion of the total recreation value generated by visitors to the Big Bear area. Serrano Campground is the most requested campground in the National Recreation Reservation System. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Ski Areas (operating under special-use permit) provide the best winter sports activities in southern California. Recreational target Page 50
September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2 San Bernardino National Forest Strategy shooting and horseback riding opportunities are accommodated at facilities under special-use authorization. Filming locations are requested frequently on both national forest and private land. One of the heaviest concentrations of recreation residences in southern California occurs here, including those in the Southwest Shore Historic Tract. Power, water transmission, telephone, cable television, communication sites, and sewer rights-of-way cross national forest land serving the communities. Quality information, interpretation, environmental education and volunteer programs are offered at the Big Bear Discovery Center. Other activities include picnicking, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, snowshoeing, snowplay and cross-country skiing. Portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the Sugarloaf National Recreation Trail are located here. Visitor use within this Place is seasonally heavy, and often concentrated in a few areas. Developed site peak capacity is regularly exceeded on summer weekends and holidays and use is expected to grow in the future. Many developed sites near Big Bear Lake are aging and in need of maintenance and reconstruction to meet accessibility standards. Many high use recreation areas overlap with threatened, endangered, and sensitive species habitat. These habitats and populations of listed species are affected by the high level of recreation activities, unauthorized road and trail establishment, trash dumping, wood theft and invasive species. Unlawful use of campfires is also a concern. Approximately one third of the lands within the Big Bear Place are in private ownership and endangered species occurring on private lands adjacent to the national forest are under increasing pressure from development. The remaining undeveloped parcels are high priority for acquisition, because of their recreational and biological values. As development continues, an increasing desire to develop urban infrastructures on National Forest System lands is anticipated. Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers: • Bear Creek 6.5 miles • Siberia Creek 3.0 miles Proposed Research Natural Areas: • Broom Flat 323 acres Special Interest Areas: • Arrastre Creek 3,551 acres • North Baldwin Lake Holcomb Valley 1,825 acres Critical Biological Land Use Zones (see table: San Bernardino NF Critical Biological Land Use Zones, page 9): • Bertha Ridge • Gold Mountain • South Baldwin Desired Condition: Big Bear Place is maintained as a rural, natural appearing landscape that functions as a recreation setting for water-oriented summer recreation and the surrounding mountains for winter sports activities. The valued landscape attributes to be preserved over time Page 51
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San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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