Last Winter Not Big Enough to Fill Lake

Big Bear had a big winter. Or at least it felt like it. Yet it’s August and the lake is 13 feet, 2 inches from full. “Even though up north got a lot of precip, we just did not,” said Mike Stephenson, general manager of the Big Bear Municipal Water District. In mid-August of 2016, Big Bear Lake was down 15 feet, 4 inches, according to MWD historical lake levels. Stephenson said the winter and corresponding water loss was better than an average year. “We weren’t unhappy,” Stephenson said. “We wish it would fill, but that’s OK.”