why not bust through with a sledgehammer? haha… I saw the pic of the concrete and it is such a shame. How reasonable is it to cap this spring when MUCH more than humans depend on it? Who is the USFS working for?
If someone does this, they will be my personal hero.
We have been using the Bay Tree Spring for 5 years. We had the water tested in the spring of 2008 and it tested positive for coliform. We boiled, but this altered the great taste of the water. We tested again in November 2008. And it passed. When we saw the everything short of a “skull and crossbones” warning on April 21st, we built an ozone generation system. It is great.
But now the US Forest Service has interim “capped” the spring to prevent usage. State DHS has driven this policy.
'Met with US Forest Service yesterday. They want the spring open. But those pesky recurring coliform. We proposed real-time ozone treatment of this water, solar powered.
The domain: http://www.friendsofbaytreespring.org was procured yesterday. Now we need to put content up. Build the support and activist community and get this valuable resource reopened. HELP?
Thank you for this insightful video! I would do some work and contribute some money to resurrect this treasure “Earth First” style.
This is a tragic loss for spring water lovers. More blind bureaucratic blundering. We used this water for years. The first time we saw this spring, we found a man that said he previously worked for Riverside County and the water always tested fine. But, do to budget cuts they no longer tested and put up the sign saying “Boil before use.”
After a couple of octogenarians, that carried themselves like college professors, told us that we should be careful because the water sometimes got “bugs.”
We tested the water and found coliform. We tested again six months later to quantify and speciate the coliform. None was detected.
I wrote to the USFS proposing an in-situ solar powered ozonation system. My stick drawing and rough cost estimate fell on deaf ears.
Looking at this video, the upper spring box could well be the source of the contamination.
I’m truly sorry that my duties as my 97 year young mother’s Conservator has preempted my full engagement in this ridiculous fight against this overreach by the USFS.
I just heard from the folks at Pure Joy Town that the spring is flowing again!! Life-giving water is flowing through the landscape again – you just can’t stop what IS.
Requested the re-opening of Bay tree spring. Here is the response from the forest service.
Thank
you for your December 29, 2011 email concerning Bay Tree Spring.
In
2010, the Bay Tree Spring, man-made water system was decommissioned (dismantled and sealed) and the spring waters allowed to take
their own natural course.
In
the interest of public health and safety, I decided to proceed with the decommissioning
project and restore Bay Tree Spring to its natural condition. The water pipe at Bay Tree Spring lead the
public to believe the water may be quality drinking water, when, in fact, it
was not.
The water at Bay Tree Springs tested
positive for coliform on a regular basis, and did not meet California State
Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) standards for safe drinking
water. Forest Service direction for
unprotected/untreated water sources is that the site must be kept in an
undeveloped condition, in its natural state. (FSM 7421.12). To restore Bay Tree Spring to its natural
condition, the existing pipe was removed to allow the seasonal water flow to
follow its natural path.
There were further safety concerns for
the motoring and pedestrian public near the Bay Tree Spring area due to unsafe
parking near a blind curve on State Highway 243
We appreciate your comments and thank you
for your interest.
Yea fuck this , its our planet , thats human rights violation ! Why did they shut it down! ? hit me up on facebook and im down to protest ! I want some structured fucking water!!!
we were there a couple days ago. This spring is closed as was reported. It was located in a bad spot on the side of a busy road, when we got out of our car to go look at it, a cop was driving by and yelled from his P.A. to get off the road! So much for that, we went up the road a few miles to Marion campground.
Bay Tree Springs is not only sealed off by USFS, they even ripped out the 100 yr.old log sign. They say they will return the spring to it'd natural state. I guess this means ripping out 100 yrs. of rock work as well. How sad. Another beautiful, tranquil site to count among our losses. Does USFS have a soul, somewhere?
I was at this spring today 09/19/09 and the water is flowing again. Someone has broken through the capped off pipe, and the water continues to flow. I stopped with my wife and filled up one 32 oz bottle. I tried the water on the way down the mountain and so far so good. Tastes exactly the way I remember it when my Dad took me there 25 years ago (my first time).
Please make a note that this spring has been closed due to contamination so that other's don't make a special trip like I did and find out the hard way.
OOOPPS!! Hey Daniel, I only just saw the other comments on this spring & that you had already posted that it was closed..!! & there I was thinking that I was breaking the news..!! :-))
ATTENTION: I am sorry to report that this spring is no longer active or available!! It has been shut down for about two months! We went there over a month ago, looking forward to filling up our glass gallon bottles, only to find it closed off, dry, full of bugs & derelict. There was a sign saying the spring water was found to be hazardous to health & contaminated with 'so & so' coli..!!
Just found this link and this one is near me. I was just hiking in Idyllwild today. I was planning on coming back and harvesting some water. Big time bummer. I'll go to the sites mentioned above and support the opening of this spring.
FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION: My wife and I drove to Bay Tree Springs this morning, Sunday, July 19, 2009 and the Forrest Service has capped the spring with concrete. No more wonderful, great tasting spring water. The moron bureaucrats have screwed us again ! We've been drinking the water from that spring for over two years, never any problem. Such a shame.
I get water here on a regular. The water is great. There are signs about their being coliform bacteria in the water. Coliform bacteria is said to be found in most springs from what I have read. It doesn't mean it is from animal feces or human feces and it also doesn't mean there is e coli in the water either. It just means coliform is present in the water. Like I said I drink it everyday and I am fine. I have also met people up there that have been going to that spring for 30 + years. Also the signs say it is closed but you can still harvest water. Nobody can stop you. It flows from a pipe that is drilled into the mountain. So I don't see how anything sketchy can contaminate the water.
I've made 2 trips up there to collect water and thought it was great. The third trip (months ago), there was a sign hanging in front “CLOSED”. The only answers I've been able to get from the local rangers is that they test the water monthly and there's some sort of contamination, which has happened in the past. They couldn't tell me anything else. I would definitely call the Idyllwild Ranger Station before you make a long trip up there and check on the status. Here's the number: 909-382-2922. I never had any ill effects from the water and I drank 20 gallons of it, so I'm not claiming to know what the situation is, just wanted to let others know. The water IS flowing last time I checked.
Is the spring closed. I drove up today 5/26/18. Looks like its been closed for awhile. Long drive from San Diego to come back with no water. Anybody have a status update????
Just moved into the area. Wanted to see if there any updates on this spring. Website says it’s closed but comments say otherwise. Also any updates on bacteria issue?
Went to BayTreeSping in May 2014, easy to find on the side of the road, and flowing even in this drought. There are no spring box that are in proper working order and any spouts are long gone. Not sure about the source, hiked up a bit and could not find the source but did drink some water and tasted clean. Would want to do a testing before I filled up bottles.
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
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Bay Tree Spring, Idyllwild, CA
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It's definitely closed again, unfortunately. We went up a few week ago (late Nov) and it's completely dismantled.
why not bust through with a sledgehammer? haha… I saw the pic of the concrete and it is such a shame. How reasonable is it to cap this spring when MUCH more than humans depend on it? Who is the USFS working for?
If someone does this, they will be my personal hero.
If, and only if, we fight back (non-violently of course) we will get this spring reopened.
Join the Friends of the Bay Tree Spring to save the Bay Tree Spring!
see: http://www.friendsofbaytreespring.org
thanks for the info… too bad… i just found this site and was excited to see that there might be a spring near LA — oh welll
correction, please see>>>>> http://www.myspace.com/savingbaytreespring
how do i support 'friends of bay tree springs'???
This spring needs to re-open. That is public land and a public spring.
SAVE THE BAY TREE SPRING!
We have been using the Bay Tree Spring for 5 years. We had the water tested in the spring of 2008 and it tested positive for coliform. We boiled, but this altered the great taste of the water. We tested again in November 2008. And it passed. When we saw the everything short of a “skull and crossbones” warning on April 21st, we built an ozone generation system. It is great.
But now the US Forest Service has interim “capped” the spring to prevent usage. State DHS has driven this policy.
'Met with US Forest Service yesterday. They want the spring open. But those pesky recurring coliform. We proposed real-time ozone treatment of this water, solar powered.
The domain: http://www.friendsofbaytreespring.org was procured yesterday. Now we need to put content up. Build the support and activist community and get this valuable resource reopened. HELP?
Joe
310-570-3896
Thank you for this insightful video! I would do some work and contribute some money to resurrect this treasure “Earth First” style.
This is a tragic loss for spring water lovers. More blind bureaucratic blundering. We used this water for years. The first time we saw this spring, we found a man that said he previously worked for Riverside County and the water always tested fine. But, do to budget cuts they no longer tested and put up the sign saying “Boil before use.”
After a couple of octogenarians, that carried themselves like college professors, told us that we should be careful because the water sometimes got “bugs.”
We tested the water and found coliform. We tested again six months later to quantify and speciate the coliform. None was detected.
I wrote to the USFS proposing an in-situ solar powered ozonation system. My stick drawing and rough cost estimate fell on deaf ears.
Looking at this video, the upper spring box could well be the source of the contamination.
I’m truly sorry that my duties as my 97 year young mother’s Conservator has preempted my full engagement in this ridiculous fight against this overreach by the USFS.
this spring…is still…ALIVE!!!! 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhQgtQfZXvc&feature=plcp
I just heard from the folks at Pure Joy Town that the spring is flowing again!! Life-giving water is flowing through the landscape again – you just can’t stop what IS.
Requested the re-opening of Bay tree spring. Here is the response from the forest service.
Thank
you for your December 29, 2011 email concerning Bay Tree Spring.
In
2010, the Bay Tree Spring, man-made water system was decommissioned (dismantled and sealed) and the spring waters allowed to take
their own natural course.
In
the interest of public health and safety, I decided to proceed with the decommissioning
project and restore Bay Tree Spring to its natural condition. The water pipe at Bay Tree Spring lead the
public to believe the water may be quality drinking water, when, in fact, it
was not.
The water at Bay Tree Springs tested
positive for coliform on a regular basis, and did not meet California State
Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) standards for safe drinking
water. Forest Service direction for
unprotected/untreated water sources is that the site must be kept in an
undeveloped condition, in its natural state. (FSM 7421.12). To restore Bay Tree Spring to its natural
condition, the existing pipe was removed to allow the seasonal water flow to
follow its natural path.
There were further safety concerns for
the motoring and pedestrian public near the Bay Tree Spring area due to unsafe
parking near a blind curve on State Highway 243
We appreciate your comments and thank you
for your interest.
Sincerely,
/s/ Laurie Rosenthal
Laurie
Rosenthal
San
Jacinto District Ranger
Yea fuck this , its our planet , thats human rights violation ! Why did they shut it down! ? hit me up on facebook and im down to protest ! I want some structured fucking water!!!
What a bunch of pieces of shit for shutting this down!!!!
we were there a couple days ago. This spring is closed as was reported. It was located in a bad spot on the side of a busy road, when we got out of our car to go look at it, a cop was driving by and yelled from his P.A. to get off the road! So much for that, we went up the road a few miles to Marion campground.
We need to take back our spring. What about physically reopening the spring ourselves, without asking anyone. When there is no way, there's a way.
It's our land to utilize.
Bay Tree Springs is not only sealed off by USFS, they even ripped out the 100 yr.old log sign. They say they will return the spring to it'd natural state. I guess this means ripping out 100 yrs. of rock work as well. How sad. Another beautiful, tranquil site to count among our losses. Does USFS have a soul, somewhere?
I was at this spring today 09/19/09 and the water is flowing again. Someone has broken through the capped off pipe, and the water continues to flow. I stopped with my wife and filled up one 32 oz bottle. I tried the water on the way down the mountain and so far so good. Tastes exactly the way I remember it when my Dad took me there 25 years ago (my first time).
Please make a note that this spring has been closed due to contamination so that other's don't make a special trip like I did and find out the hard way.
OOOPPS!! Hey Daniel, I only just saw the other comments on this spring & that you had already posted that it was closed..!! & there I was thinking that I was breaking the news..!! :-))
ATTENTION:
I am sorry to report that this spring is no longer active or available!!
It has been shut down for about two months! We went there over a month ago, looking forward to filling up our glass gallon bottles, only to find it closed off, dry, full of bugs & derelict.
There was a sign saying the spring water was found to be hazardous to health & contaminated with 'so & so' coli..!!
Just found this link and this one is near me. I was just hiking in Idyllwild today. I was planning on coming back and harvesting some water. Big time bummer. I'll go to the sites mentioned above and support the opening of this spring.
FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION: My wife and I drove to Bay Tree Springs this morning, Sunday, July 19, 2009 and the Forrest Service has capped the spring with concrete. No more wonderful, great tasting spring water. The moron bureaucrats have screwed us again ! We've been drinking the water from that spring for over two years, never any problem.
Such a shame.
SAVE THE BAY TREE SPRING!!
see http://www.myspace.com/savingthebaytreespring
Info on coliform in water here: http://www.oasisdesign.net/water/quality/colifo… and here: http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/…
I get water here on a regular. The water is great. There are signs about their being coliform bacteria in the water. Coliform bacteria is said to be found in most springs from what I have read. It doesn't mean it is from animal feces or human feces and it also doesn't mean there is e coli in the water either. It just means coliform is present in the water. Like I said I drink it everyday and I am fine. I have also met people up there that have been going to that spring for 30 + years. Also the signs say it is closed but you can still harvest water. Nobody can stop you. It flows from a pipe that is drilled into the mountain. So I don't see how anything sketchy can contaminate the water.
I've made 2 trips up there to collect water and thought it was great. The third trip (months ago), there was a sign hanging in front “CLOSED”. The only answers I've been able to get from the local rangers is that they test the water monthly and there's some sort of contamination, which has happened in the past. They couldn't tell me anything else. I would definitely call the Idyllwild Ranger Station before you make a long trip up there and check on the status. Here's the number: 909-382-2922. I never had any ill effects from the water and I drank 20 gallons of it, so I'm not claiming to know what the situation is, just wanted to let others know. The water IS flowing last time I checked.
Is the spring closed. I drove up today 5/26/18. Looks like its been closed for awhile. Long drive from San Diego to come back with no water. Anybody have a status update????
Just moved into the area. Wanted to see if there any updates on this spring. Website says it’s closed but comments say otherwise. Also any updates on bacteria issue?
Is it open?
update??
Went to BayTreeSping in May 2014, easy to find on the side of the road, and flowing even in this drought. There are no spring box that are in proper working order and any spouts are long gone. Not sure about the source, hiked up a bit and could not find the source but did drink some water and tasted clean. Would want to do a testing before I filled up bottles.
It's definitely closed again, unfortunately. We went up a few week ago (late Nov) and it's completely dismantled.