On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved California's 2012 Section 303(d) list of impaired waters in three Regional Water Quality Control Boards (the North Coast, the Lahontan and the Colorado River boards).
California’s State Water Resource Control Board does the investigation and research. These results are forwarded to the U.S. EPA for approval.
Among the water areas included on an earlier list was Lake Fulmor, which is a U.S. Forest Service recreation site in the San Jacinto Ranger District. The concern several years ago was about possible pathogens. Research and monitoring will continue through 2019, according to the report.
John Miller, public affairs officer for the San Bernardino National Forest, explained that the lake’s recreational uses are fishing and picnicking, not swimming or drinking water.
“We do not monitor water quality on this site but we have had water concerns involving algae levels for the past several years likely related to the drought, creating a lack of water flow in and out of the lake,” he wrote in an email.
The lake’s bacteria level may be related to this problem and he stressed, “We do not recommend swimming in the lake. It is posted with a sign stating this as you enter the recreation site.”
The Forest Service is not currently conducting any other work or rehabilitation at Lake Fulmor, but will review the water board’s report when it is completed in 2019, according to Miller.
