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******************** EXPANDED SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE MOUNTAIN SERVICE RATE AREA - USER GUIDE The following information is being provided to assist you in using your new expanded solid waste collection service. Listed under the description of each cart are the items that must be placed into that specific container. Mixed Recyclables:
General Refuse:
Dear HLA Members A number of important dates and items need to be addressed. National Forest Homeowners: All HLA members who pay their dues to HLA are on the mailing list for NFH. An election ballot has been sent to all members. Below are suggested individuals who are supported by HLA. Geoff Anderson-President Geoff and his wife are cabin owners at Huntington Lake in Huckleberry Tract and he is president of that Tract at present. Bob Warnock--Treasurer Directors: Five are to be chosen: Dennis Driggers-a cabin owner in Upper Line Creek at Huntington Lake Helen Engeseth Ted Filer Daryl Weech WRITE IN - STAN JASEK-his name was forgotten on the slate, and he is a sitting Board Member. He has solid organizational and business background. Nominating Committee. Support slate as written. BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 4, 2008
Annual Tract President and HLA meeting with Forest Service Date: May 10, 2008, Saturday, starts at 9 a.m. in Prather This is a date that works for Kim Brower, the FS Chief Appraiser and Mitch Dunshee, the appraiser who will appraise our recreational lots this summer. THE TRACT VISITS BY THE APPRAISER FOR HUNTINGTON LAKE WILL BE JULY 4-5-6, 2008. Each Tract President and Tract Appraisal Committee needs to meet with Mitch, to point out specifics on the "typical lots" that were chosen for the appraisal. Mark your calendar for these meetings. We want to keep the cabin program affordable. The value of lots/homes in Fresno County has plummeted over the last 18 months by 24-27%, BUT--T-T...those values had increased in the last four years by 40-50%. There are only two real comparables in the area that are similar lots to Huntington Lake. Those two areas are Beashore Meadows in Madera County and Courtright Lake. These locations are limited in use because of winter access, roads, power and amenities. We will have more information at the meeting. Sincerely, Chris Oberti, President
Dear Friends As we look forward to some heavy rain/snowmakers in the Sierra, the Christmas/New Year holidays saw large increases in Winter Use at Huntington Lake. Cabin owners seem to be "more hearty in accessing" their cabins by snowmobiles, skis, and snowshoes; packing in provisions with wooden sleds behind them. The wonderful weather was conducive for folks to get up to the high country and enjoy Huntington Lake. Thinning Projects The thinning projects supported by funds from the Fresno County Resource Advisory Committee and the Forest Service Healthy Forest funds are very noticeable. Total funds spent were over $150,000. Idylwilde/Home Creek tracts can actually see SUNLIGHT through the trees. Upper Line Creek, Lower Line Creek were also thinned. You will find stacked firewood on most lots, with a large amount of wood chips stored at the Old Lumber yard across from Huckleberry Tract. There have been cabin owners who experimented with the chips on roads and it has proved to reduce dust and erosion. The FS approves its use. A little fine tuning at the beginning of the season maintains/provides coverage with the effort going a long way. Next summer cabin owners can avail themselves of the chip for lot/parking areas, road and etc. and finish any tree maintenance/piles--that will be chipped or burned next fall. Lake clean-up: Sierra NF, Southern Cal Edison and High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew See Nancy Woolsey's enclosed story about the "floating trash" removal. Numerous cabin owners/visitors had asked what could be done with the unsightly mess around Dam #2. The story tells how it got done through a partnership and a little work. We thank all those who spent time to work on this project. HLA Associate Members The HLA had been asked if the Huntington Condos/Cabins could receive information that HLA members received. The Board had offered an associate membership to that group. The Board feels educating more of the public can only be a benefit. It can open up partnerships, get people involved, garner support when pertinent issues arise and expands that education/knowledge to a broader base of users. We welcome them to HL. Billy Creek Museum has received its 20 Year Permit Renewal effective Jan. 2008. Annual Board Meeting with the Sierra Forest Supervisor The annual Sierra Forest Supervisor/Administrators, HLA Board Meeting was held in November. Once again good discussion on upcoming issues, trends and events were exchanged. 20 year permit renewal/issuance will be coming to cabin owners in the spring. Only a handful of cabins will be given a one year permit. Dave Taylor will be working with those cabin owners. Meetings with the chosen appraiser for the (every) 10-year CUFFA cabin appraisal will be scheduled for the summer season. Each Tract should send representatives who are familiar with the different typical "lot types" that were chosen and be ready to state their case. More information will be coming in April on how to prepare for the meeting. HLA attended meetings for the Sierra Forest Motorized Management Plan (OHV-Off Highway Vehicles), the Sierra Forest designated "NICHE" (outline of use by the public), and the Facility (campgrounds, trail heads) Maintenance Analysis. Comments were provided for the NOI and Scoping process. The most significant discussion/statement by Ed Cole that we have outlined in the newsletter is "because of the projected increase population in CA and the needs for recreation on public lands, there will be seen an INCREASE IN USER CONFLICTS." A prime example is the 2000 Wilderness Lawsuit brought against the Sierra Forest. The plaintiffs, i.e., High Sierra Hikers Assoc. (Berkeley/Montana), Wilderness Watch and FS Employees for Environment Ethics filed a lawsuit that would curtail public access by Stock/Guides (horses on trails) because "hikers objected to horse manure on trails used by Stock/Guides" of which the plaintiffs also use. I guess they need to remember, the white man first came across the Sierra in the mid 1850's and YES they had Stock animals and Yes! there was manure back then!! It's historic. There will be more of such lawsuits, thus the need to respond to Forest Service NOE (Notice of Intent) Scoping and Analysis process. With regard to OHV, please keep in mind that those uses are people who ride mountain bikes, dirt bikes, equestrians (who trailer their personal mounts into the mountains) Sheriff's Departments' Search and Rescue teams and Four-wheel drive users. The contingency of motorized users are over 4.5 million users strong in the state of California (they support an 11 billion dollar industry). There is an interest to tell the public that these people have an equal right to Public Lands. Assembly member, Joel Anderson, 77th District is supporting Personalized Off Roaders license plates (like the ones veterans have) as a way to show the diverse membership of this group. If you would like to support this endeavor, their website is www.ohvplates.org. Please also see the enclosed article about OHV partnership and stewardship efforts on the El Dorado Forest. Region 5 Recreation Resource Advisory Committee I have been appointed by Marlene Finely, Reg. 5 Direction of Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness to this committee. The RAC was established in compliance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. It was established to obtain advice regarding recreation fees on Federal recreational lands and waters managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew Southern California Edison Sierra National Forest Partnerships in Action October 10, 2007 By Nancy Woolsey On a beautiful fall day at Huntington Lake, nine people came together to achieve a common goal: clean up at Dam 2! Four members of the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew led by Rick Chappell, four employees from Southern California Edison (SCE), and Nancy Woolsey from the Sierra National Forest came prepared with trash bags, sledgehammers, and a lot of determination. Old pieces of dock material, chunks of styrofoam, trash and a large piece of dock with two feet of concrete attached was no match for this crew. Rick and some of the guys tackled the concrete dock with sledgehammers, while the others began scouting the shoreline and trees for pieces of styrofoam and trash. While on this treasure hunt, other interesting items were discovered which included a pontoon from a pontoon boat and a broken kayak. The smaller items quickly disappeared into trash bags and were loaded along with the larger items into the back of SCE's pickup truck for disposal off National Forest Lands. This is a great example of how partners can work together to get the job done. A difficult clean up project that could have taken several days only took a few hours. But what a difference those few hours has made in the shoreline by dam 2! Thanks all around for a job well done! By partnering together, we can continue to preserve and protect precious forest resources for generations to come.
Friends of El Dorado Inaugural Success Forest users pitch in to help the Forest Service staff maintain El Dorado National Forest Nearly 100 volunteers comprised of OHV and forest recreationists traveled more than a combined total of 13,000 miles to spend a day of their weekend maintaining El Dorado National Forest in California. The Friends of El Dorado volunteers logged more than 800 volunteer work hours into their forest. With strong cooperation from the USFS, this group of volunteers and USFS professional spent a full day clearing and chipping 4 total miles of roadside brush, cleaning up abandoned automobiles, and removing appliances and scrap. This was more than just a light pick up. Winches and heavy trailers were required to load and haul off illegally dumped household garbage, furniture, and construction debris. Volunteers removed just under an estimated 2 tons of illegally dumped material. Duane A. Nelson, the Placerville District Ranger who was on site had this to say about the Friends of El Dorado first work party: "This was one of the largest and best organized one-day volunteer efforts ever pulled off on the El Dorado National Forest. I'm very impressed with the commitment of the individual volunteers and the "Friends" leadership to pull off not only a well attended, but also very effective work day. The logistics were impeccably handled and we got a tremendous amount of work done. You folks really know how to deliver!" While the volunteers were comprises of mainly OHV users, many different groups, clubs, and organizations were involved in the work party and in supporting the effort. Cameron Park Crawlers, E Clampus Vitus, Four Dice 4x4, Kyburz Krawlerz, Motherload Rock Crawlers, The Rock Zombies, The Rubicon Rockheads, Friends of the Rubicon, SN4x4, Santa Cruz Four Wheel Drive Club, and URJB were some of the larger groups that appeared in force to support the Friends of El Dorado National Forest Organization. The organization has also received support and donations from 4x4Ventures Inc., Blue Ribbon Coalition, CAL4Wheel, CRAWL Magazine, Pirate4x4.com, Squeelers Meat, The Rubicon Trail Foundation and the USFS. It is important to note that this area and the route maintained by the Friends of El Dorado is not an area of the forest that the OHV community normally frequents. These volunteers have shown that they care about the entire forest and all the roads and trails within it, not just the ones they use. By maintaining this area and this route, the Friend of El Dorado National Forest are insuring continued access via motorized vehicles for all types of people to recreate in the forest responsibly, including campers, fishermen, hikers, horseback riders, hunters, bird watchers, miners and the like. The Friends of El Dorado National Forest (FOE) is committed to maintaining and improving the relationship between forest users and forest managers, and helping to maintain and retain access to our Forest. The mission of FOE is to not only maintain trails, campsites and the likes, but to educate forest users in responsible use and help support other organizations in their conservation efforts. Dates to Remember, Summer 2007, Huntington Lake, CA Huntington Lake Association Annual Meeting, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007, 1 p.m., Lakeshore Resort Billy Creek Museum: Opening July 7, 2007 to Sept. 2, 2007 Huntington Lake Big Creek Historical Conservancy Annual Meeting; August 4, 2007, 10 a.m., Lakeshore Resort Historical Cabin Tour, August 11, 2007, 12-4 p.m. Volunteer Fire Dept./Community Pancake Breakfast at Lakeshore Resort, July 8, 2007 Annual Garbage/Trash Pick-up at Old Lakeshore Lumber Yard, Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1 & 2 ( **No toxic materials, one appliance, hot water heater o.k., refrigerator o.k., don’t remove Freeon. Please use common sense. Lake level will drop like a stone on Sept. 1, 2007 Get your boat out early, as there will be no water increase because of low water levels in the back country. Have a Great Summer! Dear Friends The upcoming Huntington Lake Assoc. annual meeting as you will see from the enclosed agenda is important to the HL community. We will have speakers addressing the surrounding "Forest Health", fire issues and lake levels. The extreme fire danger this season is of the utmost concern. The thinning process around Huntington Lake has been suspended due to lawsuits filed against the Forest Service by numerous so-called environmental groups. Mark Smith from the FS will explain good forest/land management and the lawsuits that have stopped him from doing his job. He will also explain what can be done by a community who cares. At this time "we are in a losing game" so we need to change the game plan. We did it last year, so we can do it again. Please plan on attending this meeting. We will have sample letters available that need to be addressed to Senator Diane Feinstein, plus other individuals who need to hear our concerns. Sincerely, Chris Oberti AGENDA ANNUAL HUNTINGTON LAKE ASSOCIATION MEETING August 4, 2007 Lakeshore Resort Hall, 1 p.m. 1. Meeting called to order: Chris Oberti, Pres. 2. Moment of Silence for deceased members. 3. Reading of Minutes 2006 Annual Meeting: Maureen Barile, Sec. 4. Introduction of Guests:
5. Annual clean up 6. Budget 7. Election of Officers: West Central Division-Home Creek, Idylwilde, Huckleberry tracts. Nominee: Tim Green. Central Division-Upper Line Creek, Lower Line Creek and Lower Line Improvement Assoc. Nominee: Chris Oberti. Nominations from floor. Meeting adjourned
Dear Huntington Lake Friends APPRAISALS The upcoming issue with the Forest Service in the next year will be the recreation lot appraisals. The CUFFA bill of 2000 was sponsored by Senator Larry Craig of Idaho with strong support of National Forest Homeowners. It was an attempt to devise a system of fair appraisals of the rec lot, with no improvements. The legislation set a limit to annual inflation costs increases, but it also recognized a need to do appraisals more frequently, i.e., every 10 years, to avoid "sticker shock." Every cabin owner received a letter from the FS explaining the process in December, 2006. The appraiser will be using the industry standards for appraisals. "Typical lots" were chosen by each Tract (i.e., lakeview, lakeshore, tree view) and as such will be appraised during the next year. Kim Brower, the FS appraiser overseeing this challenging endeavor will attend the annual Sierra Forest/ Huntington Lake Tract President/HL Association meeting, that was started in 1995 so there would be open dialogue and communication between the Sierra NF and cabin owners. The meeting will be held at the Prather Forest Service office on Saturday, April 28, 2007. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. A Huntington Lake Association meeting will be held immediately following. Board Members please plan on attending.
Permits Renewal Letters to cabin owners who had issues of compliance for permit renewal will receive their "revisit letter" by June, 2007. There will be NO letter if the initial letter from Dave Taylor was for maintenance issues only. The next letter that THOSE CABIN OWNERS (which only had maintenance issues) will receive, is their permit letter in 2008 for a 20-year permit. Cabin owners who received the COMPLIANCE issue letters and "if-if-if" the compliance issues are NOT BROUGHT INTO compliance, the 3rd letter those folks will receive will be a LETTER FOR A ONE YEAR PERMIT. ************PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU RECEIVE A ONE-YEAR PERMIT, YOU DO NOT HAVE RECOURSE********** There are only a handful of non-compliance cabins, BUTTTTTT--the Forest Service means business. HLA will not become engaged in a finger-pointing situation. We are all grown-ups and hopefully can read and comprehend what we read. Take Warning! For folks who need help for maintenance issues, we are fortunate to have a cabin owner (Idylwilde) who is a contractor who does a tremendous amount of work on older structures. He worked/restored Tarpey Railroad Station in Clovis, the Judges' house on the NWC of 5th and Woodworth Sts. in Clovis, and the Victorian House in Clovis, along with homes in the Tower District in Fresno. His name is Tim Green and is available at 559-977-3047. ALP/SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON RELICENSING Enclosed is a composite overview of the ALP (Alternative Licensing Process) Big Creek hydro system. It helps in understanding the many facets and complexity in the License Renewal process. The HLA has a copy of the complete documentation of the process. The final (celebration) meeting of the collaborative group takes place on April 12. The FERC (Federal Energy Regulation Committee) is pleased to have received the submittal and will attend. Any monetary partnership agreements with stakeholders will not take place until Jan. 2009. Idlywilde/Home Creek and Thinning Projects An enclosed article from the Fresno Bee 3/31/07 says it all. At the Forest Service meeting (4/28/07) we will get more information on the other projects at Huntington Lake. It may be that the cabin owners need to roll up their sleeves and do some brush removal. The Fresno Bee, March 31, 2007: Judge tosses Bush rules easing forest restrictions SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge on Friday tossed out new Bush administration rules that gave national forest managers more discretion to approve logging and other commercial projects without lengthy environmental reviews. U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled that the government failed to adequately consider the effects the rules would have on the environment and neglected to property gather public comment on the issue. Hamilton said in her written decision that the government couldn't institute the new rules until proper environmental reviews were conducted, but she declined to specify how the nation's 155 national forests should be managed until then. The ruling overturns a key administration environmental rule that governs all 192 million acres of national forest and it stops plans such as logging and mining in the parks. "I think people who love wildlife and care for our public forest should be elated by this decision," said Peter Frost, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center, one of 15 environmental groups that bought a pair of lawsuits challenging the new rules. Hamilton issued a single ruling for both cases. ********** Dates to Remember Billy Creek Museum OPENS July 7 to Sept. 2, 2007 HLA Annual Meeting: August 4, 2007, Lakeshore Resort Hall Historical Cabin Tour: August 11, 2007 HLA Sponsored Pancake Breakfast: July 8, 2007, Lakeshore Hall Don't forget: April 28, 2007 meeting with the Forest Service Appraiser, Kim Brower Please update the HLA with any new addresses or changes. Dear Huntington Lake Friends As we come to the end of another year, we are close to finalizing a number of decisions that effect the Huntington Lake community. The following is important information so we ask you to keep it with your cabin file. 1. Thinning at Idylwilde/Home Creek/Cedar Crest Resort The Forest Service put out to bid a contract on the above areas for thinning at a pre-set cost. At this time no contractor has chosen to take up the bid. The FS is working on another avenue to accomplish the thinning as it is a major fire concern to the area. 2. Cabin Permit renewals All cabin owners should have received from the Sierra Forest Supervisor, Ed Cole, a letter outlining the "decision memo" that he signed. Basically it is "to continue use as currently permitted for recreation residence tracts on the Sierra National Forest." The document is a nine page letter outlining his findings as to all Federal Laws, plus Heritage and Cultural Resources. The three cabins that may affect these resources will be monitored during the permit time frame. If you have not received this letter call the Supervisor's office at 559-297-0706 and request a copy. It is important information. Dave Taylor will be sending out letters to all cabin owners this spring/summer referencing his re-inspection and will indicate any issues not resolved. 3. Historical Recreation District All tracts have been reviewed by the National Park Service, with the historical tracts being submitted to SHPO (State Historic Preservation Officer) for concurrence. The Sierra Forest supports a Historical District and will submit their report to the Federal Register. This is a unique opportunity as there will probably never be another hydro project built in the state of California and surely not one that opened up the Sierra to recreational opportunities as with the SCE Big Creek project. The hydro project will also be submitted as a historic property. A number of issues came to the surface when the Sierra Nevada Framework was in play TEN YEARS ago. With the riparian policy put forth, a cabin in Huckleberry Tract would have been removed. The national policy of one structure per lot would also have had an affect on recreation residence tracts as all secondary cabins would have had to be removed. That discussion has been ongoing with the FS for as long as I can remember. The Framework did not take into account Heritage and Cultural resources located on the forests so those secondary structures would have had to be removed. The consideration and support of a Historic Recreation District is an important issue. We ask any interested persons to help with input to a Management Plan that would apply to maintenance of these cabins. The "rustic vernacular of a cabin in the woods" while not "overpowering in its setting" is the type of management theme we would like the community to maintain and work on going forward. In the NEAR future the Forest Service in its "Green Plan" will be downsizing its work force and outsourcing a number of local jobs. I would like to see in black and white a plan for the management of our cabins, that in the future will be the handbook for management so that we are all (including the FS) on the same page in taking care of our treasures. Give us a call if you can participate. 4. Southern California Edison Hydro power re-licensing and on-going negotiations The ALP has been a grueling six year experience. It most definitely was an education. I want to thank all the folks from HL who participated: Maureen Barile, Fred Ilchert, Lonnie Schardt, Mike Thielen, Mark Richards (Rancheria Enterprises), John Paul and Geoff Anderson. Also thanks go out to the congressional offices both local and the Washington DC offices of George Radanovich, Devin Nunes and Jim Costa for their help. ****The fundamental support and emphasis of Huntington Lake Association was the continuation of hydro production, recreation, land management and the protection of cultural and historic properties.**** Briefly the on-going negotiations results were: A 5 +/-% loss of power generation versus originally a potential loss of 17%. $125,000 grant to the Billy Creek Museum for restoration and improvements. This includes permanent underground power, reconstruct amphitheater, construction of Tom Barile Memorial footbridge crossing Billy Creek, refurbish flower and rock gardens, install a rock base for the museum sign, site prep for third historic building, repair/asphalt existing driveway, construction viewing platform (for Bomber, dams, original camp locations, etc), move B-24 memorial from Eastwood visitors center to Museum site. $25,000 grant to the Historical Conservancy for educational purposes. Historical Conservancy Partnership with SCE for an outdoor exhibit at Eastwood Visitors Center. Fresno County Sheriffs Department to receive funds of $100,000 for a snow cat. Huntington Lake Volunteer Fire Department to receive a $100,000 grant. Boat/Slip Assistance Program SCE will provide assistance to the HLA in improving existing docks in order to provide a greater range of water recreation functionality in relation to Huntington Lake water surface elevations expected to occur during the recreation season. This assistance may include, but not be limited to: Project planning for dock improvements; assist the HLA with permitting regarding any proposed dock improvements; relocation of existing docks, where appropriate and allowed by existing permits; extension of access facilities to the docks; and excavation of lakebed material to improve the range of water surface functionality, where feasible, appropriate, and permitted by regulatory agencies. SCE does not intend to become a permittee of docks or to provide advice to the HLA or its members regarding what types of changes that may be made to dock permits issued by the Forest Service. Yearly meetings with SCE representatives with HLA membership at its' annual meeting or with HLA Board if the timing of the annual meeting is inconvenient, to discuss any questions affecting Huntington Lake. Weekly anticipated Lake operations and levels will be posted at Rancheria Garage and at the Forest Service loading ramp at Lakeshore during the recreation season for public information. Current FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) regulations require that SCE prepare a Recreation Report every six years after license issuance. In addition to information required by FERC, the Recreation report will include: *Annual water surface elevation graphs for Huntington Lake that will show the daily reservoir water surface elevations between May and Sept. 10. *Annual exceedence tables showing the HL water surface elevations between May and Sept. 10. 5. Winter Recreation Kaiser Road Snow Plowing: Kaiser Pass Road (5S80) and Florence Lake Road (7S01) provide snowmobiling opportunities during the winter recreation season which typically extends between November 15 through spring, depending on snow conditions. The Forest Service maintains the snowmobile trail along these roads by grooming the trail following each winter storm. Should SCE need to plow these roads for Projects purposes, SCE will as follows: *unless required for larger equipment, plow one lane only on the Eastwood/Badger Flat segment of road 5S80 and the other lane will be maintained and reserved for winter sports use. SCE should avoid placement of blown snow on the reserved lane. *provide a uniform travel surface of a maximum one tractor blade width on snow adjacent to the cleared roadway, where practical. 6. Lot Appraisals up coming You have received from the Forest Service an explanation of this process. Any questions call National Forest Homeowners for clarification. A NFH Forum will be held in Walnut Creek on Jan. 20, 2007 at the Walnut Creek Marriott Hotel, 2355 N. Main Street. Sincerely, Chris Oberti Friends of Huntington Lake: As you know, Huntington Lake Association and the Historical Conservancy have been attending for the last 6 (SIX) years the meetings by and between the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), the Forest Service, SCE and numerous Stakeholders concerning the Hydro Relicensing of the reservoirs that make up the Big Creek Hydro Production Project. The lakes included in the system are Huntington, Florence, Edison, Redinger, Mammoth Pool, Shaver and etc. We are coming to the end of the negotiations and have a serious concern about the surface water level that has been proposed at Huntington lake by the Forest Service. The surface level needed at Huntington for maximum efficiency and power production at Power House #1 (located at the town of Big Creek) is approxikmately 6950 feet elevation. We have suggested a "minimum pool" of 6949.19 to accommodate "Historical Recreational uses and interests" at Huntington Lake and to allow for snow melt and run-off. The other consideration is that "1/2 to 1-1/2 foot below spill" off of Dam #1. The Forest Service has proposed a minimum elevation of 6936 feet elevation. That is approximately 14 feet below the high mark. THIS WOULD DRY-DOCK BOATS AND SAILBOATS, RENDER THE EXISTING DOCKS USELESS AND BANKRUPT COMMERCIAL ENTITIES that service the public at the Lake. It would probably eliminate any sailing regattas that the lake has become known for and it would potentially depreciate the real estate values of the properties located there. It has been suggested that a letter writing campaign to the Forest Service and SCE be undertaken to put a stop to this happening. If you value Huntington Lake, please write to: Supervisor Ed Cole, Sierra Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Rd., Clovis, CA 93612. Telephone 559-297-0706, #4800. Dave Dormire, SCE Hyrdo Manager, Big Creek Project, P.O. Box 100, Big Creek, CA 93605. Telephone 559-893-3611. Thank you for your support. Chris Oberti
Dear HLA Members Dave Taylor's compliance letters for Cabin Permit Renewals has hopefully reached everyone by now. If you have not received your letter, Dave will try to be at all the Tract meetings, otherwise you may reach him at 559-855-5360 #3339. The Huntington Lake Volunteer Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast will be at Lakeshore Resort on July 2, 2006, 7 a.m. The VFD will have on hand Jorgensen Fire Equipment Company to re-charge handheld portable fire extinguishers for $10 while you enjoy your breakfast and visit with friends and family. Plan on bringing your fire extinguishers to the breakfast. It's a GOOD deal! Southern California Edison Re-licensing We are still engaged in negotiations with SCE. The concerns at this time are water rights, water-levels due to the Sierra Nevada Frameword riparian restoration demands (by the Forest Service demand), support for continuation of maximum hydro production and RECREATION needs, i.e., "Surface Lake Levels" for recreation. We will keep you posted. Huntington Lake Historical Recreation District HLA and Huntington Lake Big Creek Historical Conservancy will be meeting with California State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to express our support for a Historic District. We are trying to work with the Forest Service, but there have been some stumbling blocks because of personal agendas we need to overcome. Preserve America Community: Fresno County Supervisors have passed a resolution of designating the Community of Huntington Lake as a Preserve America Community. Preserve America is a White House initiative developed in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to highlight and preserve our national heritage. We will be working with the Fresno County Landmarks Committee identifying historical places at Huntington Lake. The designation will make available grants for historic preservation and restoration. Resource Advisory Committee: Huntington Lake has received another grant to remove debris and fuels for work to be done in the Lower Line and Upper Line Creek tracts. Hopefully it will be completed this fall. Volunteer Fire Department Proposal for fee increase: Huntington Lake Assoc. Board of Directors will request a meeting with the newly formed/elected HL Volunteer Fire Dept. A number of questions have come to the HLA Board; it was felt a sit-down meeting with open communications will give us answers and help understand concerns of the Community between the organizations. Garbage pick up/recycling containers: General Refuse: brown can Mixed Recyclables: blue can List of items that CANNOT be included-but not limited to: construction debris, bricks, rock, dirt, pine needles, hazardous materials, TV's, monitors, batteries and tires. The County of Fresno conducts two household hazardous waste drop-off events twice per year for all residents of Fresno County. These free events are offered in the spring and the fall of each year. Call the County Resources Division at 262-4259 for additional information. Put on your calendar: Dr. Thomas (Tom) Bonnicksen, author of "The Ancient Forest", former professor at A&M University, Texas and now at UC Davis. Tom tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the trust about how forests should be managed. 10 a.m. at the Billy Creek Museum/Walks & Talks program; 8 p.m. Campfire program. HLA Annual Meeting: August 5, 2006, Lakeshore Resort, 1 p.m.
Historic Cabin Tour: August 12, 2006. Cabins on tour will be associated with the exchibit of the mahogany "runabout boats". 12-4 p.m. Thanks for your continued support of the HLA and our community. Sincerely, Chris Oberti
There’s been plenty of rain the last month so the snow pack is good. It could be a late spring. CUFFA (Fair Appraisal Act) will be discussed at the NFH (National Forest Homeowners) convention; it will be reviewed by the NFG Coalition who brought the legislation to Senator Craig. NFH will produce a handout to be given to each cabin owner with a desired “end result appraisal” which is appropriate for forests cabins in the upcoming Cabin Appraisals. The appraisals will probably start in the next fiscal year. The annual Sierra Forest meeting with our Ranger, Ray Porter and permit administrators will be held on April 22, 2006 at the Prather Forest Service office at 9 a.m. All interested parties are invited to attend. Tract Presidents are especially encouraged to attend. A Huntington Lake Association meeting will immediately follow. Please plan on staying for that meeting. We will be discussing the recently sent out proposal by the Volunteer Fire Dept., the Historic Recreation District, Lake levels and County mandated garbage re-cycling. Enclosed is a clarification letter from Region 5 on forest cabins. It will be “added qualifications” on management of cabins in Region 5. Please read it carefully. A couple of concerns, if cabins are 50% destroyed (because of lack of forest management, ie., thinning, dead tree removal) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO SECOND STRUCTURES???? DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sincerely,
January 2006 The weather changed dramatically over New Year’s weekend. A number of trees bit the “snow-dust”, with one cabin receiving damage in Lower Line Creek. If neighbors use their cabins in the winter, you may want them to have them check your roof load and etc. The Fresno County Resource Advisory Committee has approved a brush and fuels contract for areas around Lower Line and Upper Line Creek Tracts. We can see the difference in Huckleberry Tract. It looks like a real forest, not just a tangle of brush and debris. Hopefully the Home Creek and Idylwilde tract projects will get done this summer. Dave Taylor is working hard on getting out the “compliance letters” to tracts from Bear Creek working west. He spent two months out of the office with the FEMA group in New Orleans and Florida. Uncle Sam always chooses the Forest Service to get into disaster areas, to help in clean up and organization. They do a good job, but it leaves other Forest Service work undone. Dave hopes to get the letters in the mail by June 1-15. He asks all to be patient. Because of this important work that needs to be completed for permit renewals, he will not be able to get to any new requests for renovation on existing cabins this summer. Again he asks for your patience. He will need to review the 100 cabins that received letters last season, plus the 300++ letters going out this season. National Forest Homeowners held its’ winter Forum in Fresno on Jan. 21. The hot topic is CUFFA--that law we’ve been talking about concerning cabin appraisals for the last six years. The law was passed in 2000. It needs to go to Senator Craig one more time for review. Hopefully at the NFH Convention in Reno, March 31, April 1, 2, 2006 the rules and regs will be finalized. We’ll keep you posted. We do expect new appraisals to start in the next year. Part of the law is that appraisals will be done every 10 years, so the “Sticker Shock” will be less. The FS is done evaluating the historic component of the Rec Residence Tracts. They will send to the Region 5 office the application of a multiple property submittal for a Historic Recreation District, to the Federal Register. We’ve been discussing this for a few years, a lot of work has gone into it. We are working on completing a resource list for cabin renovations; the list would include supply houses for plumbing, doors and windows, roofing and other building materials. If anyone knows of a resource that should be included, please give Maureen Barile a call. We would like to have this available for the summer season for small repairs that need to be done. Also included in this mailing is a two part article that will be in the upcoming NFH newsletter. It’s a good overview of understanding the historical context of the Recreation Cabin program and what we can work on together with the Forest Service to keep the program solid. As always, any questions, just call Maureen Barile at 559-291-7970 or Chris Oberti at 559-299-7030. Sincerely,
This old cabin…..Part I Cabin numbers have declined in recent years due to catastrophic fires in the Western states. Many of those cabins are older, being built in the infancy of the recreation residence program. Because of cabin permit renewals, the Forest Service has contracted with the National Park Service to evaluate each tract for historical significance. So how did this historical use begin? The founding piece of legislation concerning the private use of public forest reserve lands was the Organic Administration Act of 1897. This Act established permits as the means by which forest resources were to be allocated and used by private parties. The Mineral Springs Leasing Act of 1899 authorized the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations for renting forest reserve land adjacent to mineral, medicinal, and other springs for the purpose of erecting sanitariums or hotels and permits for tents or dwellings for receptionists visiting such springs. In return for an annual fee the Forest Reserve officers would issue such permits. The Act did not make specific mention of the construction and use of summer homes, but were eventually included. In 1905, Chief Forester Pinchot issued “The Use of National Forest Reserves: Regulations and Instructions”. The “Use Book” addressed the issues of summer homes on forest lands. Regulation 42 permitted “hotels, stores, mills, summer residence and similar establishments…” Regulation 44 stipulated that “occupancy permits were conditional, issued at the discretion of the foresters, and contingent upon agreement to pay a rental fee.” Regulation 45 asserted that occupancy under permit secured no right or claim against the U.S. government, “either to the land or to any compensation for improvements made upon it by the permittee.” In 1914, the Regional Forester issued additional regulations. One regulation was to establish reasonable rental rates, with “reasonable” meaning rates that were not too low. Congress added a greater degree of protection with the passage of the Occupancy Permits Act of 1915. It allowed the Forest Service to issue permits of a period of up to 30 years. In 1916, District Forester Coert DuBois at San Francisco publicized the rec residence program in a brochure. Cultural and societal changes of the period saw public interest in wilderness preservation and outdoor recreation. In 1917, the Forest Service commissioned landscape architect Frank A. Waugh to study the recreational potential of forest land. Throughout the 1920’s the Forest Service aggressively promoted the recreation residence program. Tracts were laid out according to certain criteria. They were generally laid out by stream banks or lake shores, with care to avoid conflicts with other forest users. The “layouts were sensitive to their environments.” The Back-to-Nature movement began in California as early as the 1890’s. This movement allowed everyone, from the “every-day person” to the rich, to experience the joys of outdoor recreation. With this there was pressure for the Forest Service to expand the recreation residence program. This old cabin….Part II Evaluating recreation residence cabins is a daunting task. It’s the devil in the details that make it time consuming and expensive. The reissue of special-use permits is an undertaking as identified in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and as defined in the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) implementing regulations, Protection of Historic Properties (36CFR Part 800). Depending on the region and forest, surveys and evaluations are being done at the tract level or by individual cabin. In Region 5, evaluations are being done by Tract. It has become necessary (because of cost and criterion) to recognize collections of historic recreational residences by thematic or contextual evaluation. Hopefully this will provide a greater flexibility in the process for the management of residence tracts as historic properties. It may also shift the emphasis within the program on the operations and management of the program. Among the goals would be to provide better tools and training for the Forest Service staffing in the management of the program. Design guidelines would enable reviewers and property owners to understand the program’s requirements and provide written and visual guides to assist property owners and contractors in preservation, restoration and reconstructing historic buildings. In the management process it is important for cabin owners to understand their rights and responsibilities and the unique circumstances of privately-owned recreational residences. Some issues would cover the development of a design guidance, forest and recreational residence history, and NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act) and environmental regulations. The Forest Service will need to revise handbooks to incorporate the needed changes to the rec residence program. The FS will retain the final authority for special use permits and requests for renovation/modification of recreational residences. Homeowner tract/associations would benefit in being part of the review process so that their input might improve the review process and reduce delays that occur under the current system. NOW is the time to become engaged in this process. For those cabin owners who feel that their “old cabin” has a “richness of history” because of location. a contextual theme of recreation, an event or happening (such as an association of a built hydro system that encompasses cabin use, as a result of the system’s contribution to recreation” or an important person, the consideration of being a historic property is important. That “special place” requires comment to SHPO (State Historic Preservation Officer) the Forest Service, continued responsibility and stewardship of a valued cultural and historic resource, “this old cabin.”
May 2005Dear Friends: The Huntington Lake Road will be plowed as weather permits. As of May 7, 2005, it was plowed up to Cedar Crest, but we’ve had a few more storms, so it would be safe to say it is uncertain at this time when the road will be fully opened. It is a late spring. The Rec Tract Historical evaluations are still coming in; at this time it is assumed that Lower Line, Upper Line, Deer Creek and Bear Creek will not be significant. The Park Service combined tracts such as all of Bear and all of Deer Creek, so the percentage is diluted as to significance. We are expecting to be visited by a preservation official from Washington DS this summer. HLA and the Historical Conservancy are requesting a Historical District submittal to the National Historic Register in the mitigation process of the FERC licensing of the SCE Big Creek Project. As you read the enclosed, you will see the reasoning. Enclosed is interesting information which I encourage all HLA members to read concerning the importance of a Historic Recreation District. As I have said before, “never say never” when it comes to outside influences in regards to cabins and the continued use. Important Dates: Billy Creek Museum Opening: July 2, 2005, 11:00 a.m. See you at the Lake. Questions: Maureen Barile, 291-7970, Chris Oberti, 299-7030. Sincerely, Chris Oberti
March 2005Houston--WE HAVE SNOW!! When we have a heavy winter as this, we suggest checking on your cabins for a heavy snow load. Check with a neighbor who may have gone into their cabin or plan a quick trip for an inspection. Big Creek Road--Fresno County is completing an environmental assessment (EA) on re-designing a 1.4 mile part of the Big Creek-Huntington road. As indicated in the last newsletter we need letters of support for the repair of the road. It is Federally funded and if the funds are not used, they go away. The Forest Service DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDS to repair the road. The issue is of access in case of fire or any emergency. The road work will take approximately up to a year. It will not increase traffic to any measurable amount and frankly the area, (immediately outside of the town, coming down from Huntington) is in need of "shoring up and repair". If it is not repaired, it could be closed down completely in the future because of disrepair. Again, this is an issue of ACCESS and SAFETY. Remember the 1994 FIRE!!! Please send your letter c/o HLA's mailing address, but address your letter to Fresno County District 5, Supervisor Bob Waterston, Fresno, Ca. HLA will hand deliver them to Mr. Waterston. Historical Evaluation of Tracts: Six evaluations have been completed. Tracts of historical significance: Lakeview Tract, Idylwilde Tract. Non-significance: Dowville, Home Creek and Rancheria. On the bubble: Huckleberry. Reports to be received: Upper Line Creek, Lower Line Creek, Bear Creek and Dear Creek. Huckleberry Tract: We have found one cabin has not been included in the evaluation. It was overlooked; we will bring this to the Forest Service's attention. Three cabins are on the bubble to be included as a contributing historic element. The other very important aspect of the evaluation that had been overlooked is the establishment of Camp Blue Jay. I had the opportunity to interview the grandson of the founder a short time ago, Jack Johnson, and will submit that "contextual aspect" to the Forest Service along with some wonderful historic photos to support historical significance for the tract. The evaluations are a part of our submittal as a Historic Recreation District. That designation would avail us the opportunity for Grants for everything to historic building restoration, education opportunities and more. Cabin Permit Compliance: Dave Taylor has indicated aproximately 50% of the Huntington cabins have been inspected. He will finish the remaining cabins this summer. Letters will be sent out to cabin permittees who are not in compliance. A copy of the Recreation Residence Uses Handbook is included with this newsletter. Please keep this document. It will help you better understand your permit. IF you need to change names (because of a death in the family, a trust or ownership) contact Kathy Landis at the Prather FS office 559-855-5360 ext 3311. Annual Forest Service Meeting: May 7, 2005. 9:00 A.M. We have had the opportunity to meet with Ranger Ray Porter before the summer season for the last 10 years. This is an important meeting for Tract Presidents, HLA Board Members and the Historical Conservancy Board to attend. The public is also welcomed. Some topics: Fuels and fire; Historical Evaluation and Permit renewal, Sheriff's Dept., rules of boating. Annual Tract Meetings: Check in with Maureen Barile if you would like either she or myself to attend your meetings. We need a little lead time to accommodate all the different meetings. If you would like a special presentation on fuels and fire and thinning, we will try to get Ramiro Rojas, the Registered Forester for the Sierra Forest to attend your meeting. He gives an exceptional presentation. He spoke the previous summer at the Museum. Please call Maureen (in advance) to reserve him. He is excellent. Also any change of address needs to be given to Maureen for our annual billing. Change of address for HLA Board Member: Jeff Wilkins, 8700 San Gregorio Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422, (805)462-8817. Summer Dates to Remember: July 1, 2005 Annual Historical Conservancy Meeting at Billy Creek Museum July 2, 2005 Summer Opening Billy Creek Museum, 100th Anniversary of the Forest Service July 3, 2005 Volunteer Fire Dept Pancake Breakfast, Lakeshore Resort Aug. 6, 2005 HLA Annual Meeting, Lakeshore resort Aug. 13, 2005 Historic Cabin Tour Aug. 20, 2005 National Public Lands Day, Billy Creek Museum Huntington Lake Big Creek Historical Conservancy Capital Campaign: Don't overlook being part of this. It is a positioning step for the Huntington Lake community in a strong and continued leadership role for the future. If you need more information or a brochure, call (559)347-0402. Remember it is a tax-deductible donation, as we are a 501c-3 non-profit educational benefits corporation. Sincerely, Chris Oberti
January 2005Dear Board Members and Friends of Huntington Lake: You all should have received the HL Association newsletter, the Capital Campaign mail out and the HLBC Historical Conservancy Winter newsletter by this time. We tried to get everything out sooner, but the mailing address program succumbed to old age; it was re-inputted and updated. Since the mailings, some important things have occurred. Both HLA and HLBC Historical Conservancy has “concurred” and signed off on the PA for the Vermillion Valley Hydroelectric Project, the SCE/FERC regimenting. We expect to have the Portal Powerhouse documents ready for signature in the next month. The mitigation and negotiations on the regimenting of Florence, Huntington and Shaver Lakes, the ALP (Alternative Licensing Procedure-Hydro Projects) begins in earnest in February, 2005. It’s been FOUR years since we began attending these monthly meetings. Now the fun begins. I have asked Maureen Barile to be the “signator” in those mitigation procedures for Huntington Lake Association and I will be the “signator” for the HLBC Historical Conservancy. I ask board members of both organizations to concur with these decisions. Please call Maureen at 291-7970 and give her your vote for our records. These are substantial dollars on the table in the ALP. If there are any thoughts /needs that should be raised by either board, again please call me (299-7030) or Maureen. I am enclosing a draft Eastwood Visitor Center MOU, pages 15 and 27, pertaining to the ALP. In these pages you will see the support that will be given by the Forest Service, SCE and the concessionaire in the partnership for the Visitor Center-it is a major component in the ALP negotiations of which we will support. Rental income will be received from the Forest Service and concessionaire for use of office space at the Visitor Center. As I mentioned, there are dollars on the table that could be available for other undertakings at Huntington. THINK ABOUT IT!! The other important item is the Historical Recreation District. It comes at an appropriate time. I have responded on four tract reports, (concurrence or non-concurrence) to SHPO (State Historic Preservation Officer) and the Forest Service. I am delighted with our grants writer. She has written two grants, but her grants investigation has surfaced numerous grant opportunities that are directed specifically to a historic district. She has found foundation monies for restoration, expanded artifact collection dollars, educational opportunities and much more, all available to a 501-c-3 Non -Profit organization. We have been given a section of the Ward Tunnel to be incorporated in an outdoor exhibit (perhaps a SCE mitigation project). We are negotiating on a steam engine and a Bulldog Mac truck (full sized), both major donations. I am excited about future potential exhibits, historical structure restorations and much more. The Historical district is becoming more of a reality, but continued community support needs to be behind it. Thanks for your help and support. Sincerely,
November 2004Dear Huntington Lake friends: Historic Cabin Evaluations: Annual Labor Day Pick-up: Some residents brought EVERYTHING, including a bathtub and TOXIC waste. It is not fair to other residents to pick-up after thoughtless individuals who felt they could “dump off anything at any time”!!! This is not the Angeles Forest that is treated as a dumping ground, please be respectful of your neighbors and your Forest. Garbage: Permit RENEWAL/Transfer: Lake Water Levels: Huntington Lake Big Creek Road: This historic route has been in place since 1923. Harry Allen built the original road to the north short of HL. As was seen just 10 short years ago, during the Big Creek fire, the road was a necessity for access. If there were a fire or disaster below Big Creek, this road would again be a necessity for access. In the winter of 1997, a tropical rain and snow melt, washed out culverts at Huntington and undermined roads below Big Creek. Access to both communities of Huntington Lake and Big Creek is by this road. With all due respect to the residents of Big Creek, it is a must that this road be repaired even though their “quiet enjoyment” will be impacted for just over a year during the reconstruction. Neither the Forest Service nor Fresno County has the monies to fix the road as needed. If it is not repaired at this time, it could very well be closed in the future. The source of monies is available now and the road should be repaired. The Board has requested that we ask members of Huntington Lake (all of you folks) to write letters in support of the project. Please direct your letters to District 5 Supervisor Bob Waterston. Please send these letters to Maureen Barile so that we may deliver them to the County Supervisor’s meeting. Please return them by December 15. Region 5, USFS 100 years Centennial Forum FACTS: Huntington Lake facts: FUTURE going FORWARD Doers: Organizations such as Huntington Lake Association and the HLBC Historical Conservancy, Sierra Club Users: The general public/city dwellers looking for relief Suers: Lawsuits by groups to prevent or delay necessary action to manage the land for people. It’s a different world coming up in the future, we need to keep that in mind. Capital Campaign Huntington Lake Big Creek Historical Conservancy Please look at the package when you receive it in the mail. A number of families have asked about contributions as a family’s memorial since we have lost some old time members of the community this past year. Please consider a generous contribution for your family as we near the end of the year. Nothing could be a better remembrance for a place we all cherish. The Conservancy is a 501-c-3 charitable corporation. The Board wishes you and your families a happy holiday season. Thanks for all your support this past year. We appreciate it. Any questions, just call Maureen Barile 559-347-0402, Chris Oberti 559-299-7030. Chris Oberti
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