Big Bear conservation group says it has raised $10 million to preserve Moon Camp shoreline
Friends of Big Bear Valley announced July 24, 2026, that it had secured the full $10 million needed to purchase Moon Camp, a 63-acre tract of forested open space and shoreline on Big Bear Lake.
The fundraising effort is intended to prevent development that San Bernardino County supervisors approved in September 2025, according to a local report. If the purchase is completed, it could change the future of a large shoreline property used by wildlife and valued for open-space preservation.
What the announcement means
For residents and visitors in Big Bear Lake, the practical issue is future land use. Moon Camp’s shoreline and forested acreage could remain open space rather than move forward under the previously approved development plan. The property is also connected to habitat used by Big Bear’s well-known bald eagles.
That does not yet mean Moon Camp is permanently preserved. The available sources document the fundraising announcement, but they do not independently establish that the sale has closed. They also do not provide a final acquisition agreement, an escrow closing date, a conservation easement or terms guaranteeing public access.
The funding was announced by Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit conservation group. The available report does not describe the effort as a government acquisition. It also does not establish that development permits have been revoked or that bald-eagle habitat has received legal protection.
Separate city infrastructure project
A separate City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power project is listed with an expected completion in August 2026. The Wolf Pipeline, Reservoir and Booster Project has a budget of $6,681,000 and is designed to add 500,000 gallons of reservoir storage.
The DWP lists three funding sources for that infrastructure project: a $1.6 million U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant, $3,081,434 in capacity charges and $1,999,566 in ratepayer charges. That project is separate from the Moon Camp conservation effort and was not selected as a new August 7 completion or decision because the available search results did not establish such an event.
What comes next
The next material step for Moon Camp is confirmation of whether the purchase closes and what legal terms govern the property afterward. Until those documents are available, the July 24 announcement establishes the reported fundraising total—not a completed transfer, permanent preservation designation or guaranteed shoreline access.
Sources
- $10M raised to save Moon Camp, home of Big Bear's famous bald eagles, KESQ
- Projects & Infrastructure, City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power
- City Council, City of Big Bear Lake
Look for updates to this story
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