Power Pole Replacement and Relocation of Power Lines

If you have visited Keystone Point since last summer, you may have noticed some new power poles and power lines in the area. Here's a report from Dick Fisher (Cabin 85), written in November 2017, which provides details about what is happening:

Power Pole Replacement and Relocation of Power Lines
Forest Service and Bear Valley Electric

With no notice of any kind to cabin owners, the Forest Service and Bear Valley Electric System began construction several weeks ago on the first phase of a multi-year project to install new wood power poles on the SW Shore, and to move all power lines off of trees and onto the new poles.  The project is likely eventually to result in all telephone lines also being removed from trees and routed onto the new wood poles, in addition to the electric lines.
 
This initial phase of this BVES project is limited to a 12-cabin service area located just south and above Keystone Point Road.  It involves re-routing the main line downhill from highway 18 so that it runs between cabins 27 & 39, down to a point around the midpoint of Keystone Point Road.  From there the line runs downhill along the northern edge of the road, down to the Keystone Point turnaround near the existing pole there, from which it is routed in a southerly direction up the slope.  
 
The service connections to the three cabins along lower Keystone Rd (Nos. 16, 17, and 18) will be fed from behind the cabins rather than from the main line along Keystone Road. Other cabins involved at this time are Nos. 14 through 22, 25, 26 and maybe 73.  BVES has located the new poles as close as possible to roads and driveways to accommodate service/repair access. 
 
Dick Fisher and Steve Harbison, along with Bob Hritz, immediately after hearing about the work in progress, met on the job site with BVES management, walked the affected area and reviewed the project.  We pointed out some problem areas and requested that several of the new poles be re-located.  We were able to persuade BVES to re-locate several poles that would have run lines directly in front of primary views from cabin porches, including the top new pole along Keystone Point Road.  We were not able to get them to consider moving the new poles off of Keystone Point Road, but the three poles there are quitetall, so that the lines will run well above the direct views of the meadow and lake.  
 
BVES and the Forest Service have assured us in writing that for future phases they will consult with us during the planning phase, before finalizing plans. 
 
Most of the existing poles are at (or beyond) the end of their useful lives, rotted in the ground, and the attachments to trees are less reliable than to poles, so this project will provide more safety and protection against fire or electrical safety hazards caused by fallen power lines. But the project will no doubt continue to present challenges in terms of interference with views.  Our goal will continue to be to push for pole and line placements that minimize any damage to the views of the neighborhood or from individual cabins. 

(Note: Follow this link to a map of the area showing roads and cabin numbers.)

Exciting New Cabin Cam!

Ed Leonhardt (Cabin 39), our cabin cam-master has made some wonderful changes and additions to the Cabin Cam site. Rather than try to describe it here, we encourage to simply click on the image above, or click on this Cabin Cam link to visit the new site and experience it for yourself. Check out all of the new weather data, photos, and other informative links that are available there. Thanks, Ed, for all of your time and effort over the past many years since you first set up the Cabin Cam in 2004!

To help him decide what other changes and additions to consider in the future, Ed would like to know which aspects of the Cabin Cam site you use and enjoy the most, and what suggestions you have for additional features and capabilities for the site. Please make your comments below on this blog post, or send your comments, suggestions, and thank-you notes to Ed using our website Contact Form. Let's all tell Ed how much we support and appreciate the wonderful resource he is providing to us with his Cabin Cam.

If you would like see the old Cabin Cam site for comparison, it is still available for a limited time at the following link: Old Cabin Cam. Take a look at the old site to really appreciate all the wonderful changes Ed has made!

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.

Searching for Rocky

The Forest Service is looking for Flying Squirrels

Hello, Big Bear Tract Cabin Owners,

The Forest Service has asked us to communicate to you the following appeal for information about flying squirrels in our local forest. Please read their message and news release, and then reply with your feedback to the email or telephone number shown below. Thanks very much. ____________________________________________________

Dear Recreation Residence Tract Residents,

If cabin owners have seen any flying squirrels at their tracts, we would like to hear from them. We are particularly interested in the following information:

• Name/address of site
• Approximate dates/years of observations
• What was the flying squirrel doing?
• Do you see them regularly?

Please share this email with as many cabin owners and users as possible.  If anyone has sightings to report, please contact our District Wildlife Biologist, Robin Eliason. Her contact information is below. Thank you. We appreciate your help.

Robin Eliason District Wildlife Biologist Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest Mountaintop Ranger District Phone: 909-382-2832 Fax:  909-866-2867 reliason@fs.fed.us

P.O. Box 290 41374 North Shore Drive Fawnskin, CA 92333-0290

____________________________________________________

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest For Immediate Release Contact: John Miller at (909) 382-2788 Twitter: @sanbernardinonf

In Search of the San Bernardino Flying Squirrel – Have You Seen One?

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., April 21, 2015 – If you have seen a flying squirrel, the US Forest Service would like to hear from you. The San Bernardino flying squirrel is a subspecies of the northern flying squirrel. It is only known from the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains although it has not been seen in the San Jacinto Mountains for about twenty years.

Flying squirrels are closer in size to chipmunks than our larger native gray squirrels. They are nocturnal and have large flaps of skin that connect their front and hind feet. These flaps of skin allow them to glide from tree to tree. They do not fly in the same way that birds do – no flapping is involved. Their flat tail is used as a rudder to steer as they glide.

US Forest Service biologists have been studying flying squirrels on the Mountaintop District of the San Bernardino National Forest since the early 1990’s. Research is needed to have a better understanding of the current distribution, their habitat requirements, and the status of the population. Much of what we know about the distribution is based on reports from residents who see flying squirrels at their bird feeders at night or those who have found dead flying squirrels.

If you have seen flying squirrels in our local mountains, please report the sighting information to Robin Eliason (reliason@fs.fed.us 909-382-2832). Photographs would also be appreciated.