Is Big Bear Lake used for drinking water?

Our drinking water is groundwater that is pumped from aquifers. It does not come from Big Bear Lake. It is treated with the amount of chlorine required by the California Department of Public Health. We have a few wells that need additional treatment, such as manganese (Mn).



People Also Ask

Specifically, a lack of nitrogen and phosphorous severely limits algal growth in Bear Lake, keeping its water clean and blue.

MORE DETAILS

“Blue-Green Algae is in fact not an algae at all, it is a bacteria (cyanobacteria). This type of bacteria is found in many lakes, ponds, and reservoirs across the world.

MORE DETAILS

Big Bear Lake is a manmade, fresh-water lake 7 miles long and a 1/2 mile wide. Maximum depth reaches 72 feet and the shoreline spans over 22 miles.

MORE DETAILS

Blue-Green Algae is in fact not an algae at all, it is a bacteria (cyanobacteria). This type of bacteria is found in many lakes, ponds, and reservoirs across the world. They are usually present in low numbers, but can become very abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water that receives a lot of sunlight.

MORE DETAILS

The lake is home to alligators and crocodiles, and while fishing is allowed, getting a permit is the least of your worries.

MORE DETAILS

Its location at over 7,000' elevation in the San Bernardino mountain range makes for winters with snow! From the beaches of Southern California you can stand in the warm, sunny 70 degree weather and see snow on the mountains where Big Bear Lake is located.

MORE DETAILS

PUBLISHED: June 23, 2023 at 5:30 a.m. | UPDATED: June 23, 2023 at 11:27 a.m. This year, the severity of toxic algae in lakes has decreased in the Inland Empire. Two lakes — Lake Elsinore and Big Bear Lake — have been hit by the algae known as cyanobacteria once again, but this time the levels are much lower.

MORE DETAILS

You may spot critters like squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits who pose little to no threat and are quick to scamper off at the sight of us humans. Rarely, you may spot other wildlife like bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes who are equally averse to humans but can pose a real danger if threatened or afraid.

MORE DETAILS

Animals abound in our mountains and some, like the playful Squirrels, Chipmunks, Raccoons and Coyotes are a pretty common sight, however the Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Fox and Deer are rarely seen.

MORE DETAILS

Bear Lake is stratified in summer-spring where lighter water overlies denser water. During the winter months the mixing processes of winds and surface cooling break down the layers and the lake freezes over. Bear Lake does not completely freeze over every year but typically three out of five years.

MORE DETAILS

The last time the lake was full enough for that to happen was in 2011. For the past century, the lake has gone through a steady 10-year pattern of filling up, dropping eight or 10 feet during dry years, then filling back up again.

MORE DETAILS

That being said, Big Bear Lake's baseline is a Caution level for the presence of algae year round. This means that there is algae present in the Lake and we discourage drinking water from the Lake and encourage you to rinse yourself and pets off after swimming in the Lake.

MORE DETAILS

The majority of alligator-infested lakes are in Florida, with Lake Jesup being the most infested lake in the United States. This lake in central Florida is home to an estimated 13,000 alligators.

MORE DETAILS