PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Larry Nokes
It looks like Spring is just around the corner and I am excited about the new year at Deer Lake. With the mild winter we've had the lake is still a little low but spring might bring it up to normal levels. The water that's there is clear and the lake is beautiful. I hope you all plan on participating in the events we are planning at the lake, some fun, some not so fun, but all necessary. The spring clean-up and chili feed to the 4th of July celebration with parades and fireworks, to the dock cleanup and annual meeting. All provide opportunities to help keep our lake and adjacent areas fun and beautiful for all to enjoy. These functions are also an opportunity to meet other property owners and get to know them. That has been one of my greatest pleasures about being president, getting to meet and visit with so many of you fine property owners. Please allow time to get involved at the lake, I know the rewards will be great!
If you have any concerns about what is happening on or around the lake, please contact me or any other board member to discuss them. Feel free to attend any board meeting to see what we are doing and to voice any concerns.
Here's to a great 2003 at Deer Lake, hope to see you all soon!
Why Join DLPOA?
We, your directors and officers, volunteer our time and effort to protect Deer Lake and the surrounding area for all of us to enjoy. The $15.00 annual dues is used to help everyone in many ways. We contribute to having roads oiled to keep the dust down during the summer months, we are continually conducting water quality testing to keep our lake water pure, we maintain two fish pens, and the newsletter is a way of informing everyone about what is taking place in our community. The twice yearly road clean-up along with the chili feeds and our annual meeting with potluck, are ways to meet your neighbors and friends. Now, we have the 4th of July fireworks and two parades to add to our list of activities.
We want to thank all of you for your support in the form of your dues and donations, this couldn't be done without you.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
By Gerry Block
I have great news to share with the DLPOA community. Station #5, Deer Lake, has received a newer fire engine. The truck is very similar in appearance to our old "attack #5". Engine #5 has 4-wheel drive and a short bed that is so ideal for the terrain around the area of Deer Lake. Many thanks to Chief Martin and the Fire Commissioners for working to obtain this vehicle for Station #5.
I wish to thank Skip Wells for his very informative presentation on "Fire Hydrants, Dry Hydrants and Standpipes" at the last DLPOA board meeting. There would be a lot of work to do and. of course, money to spend to upgrade the water system around the lake. We are very fortunate not to have lost homes to fires in the congested areas around the lake. I am sure we will be hearing more on this subject and I will keep you posted as soon as I have an update.
The question of volunteers for the fire district is again being addressed. If you have EVER considered volunteering as a fire person/EMS responder, please contact the staff at the administration office, 262-9660.
I want to thank everyone that helped with the Christmas project of gifts/food for a deserving family. Each Christmas a family is selected to receive assistance in extending their holiday needs. To begin the project, it was determined that the Santa Sleigh would not make another trip without new tires. Word was spread throughout the Loon/Deer lake communities and with the help of Ray and his elves, the sleigh was fitted with new tires, rewelded, rewired and decorated. Santa and Mrs. Claus. AKA Larry and Charm, were ready for the trip around the lakes. Thanks again to all!
See you on road cleanup day. May 17th !!
FOURTH OF JULY
Larry Nokes
After two years of Fourth of July celebrations it appears that many of the people around the lake have truly enjoyed the parades and fireworks display, and the consensus is for these activities to continue. This is a wonderful time to share the fun with neighbors and friends, and to meet other Deer Lake people.
DLPOA has committed to this years activities but in order for this fun to continue, more donations are necessary. The past two years only part of the cost was covered by donations with the balance coming out of the general fund. The Board feelss it is necessary that a majority of the costs roist be covered by donations so we can use the general fund for other pressing items around the lake.
A small donation of up to $20.00 by a majority of the DLPOA members would easily cover these costs and allow us to continue and even expand the activities and fireworks display. If you enjoyed the past two years, please send donations to allow us to continue with this fun.
If you have any questions, please give me a call at 233-2088.
Thank you for your consideration, donations in the past and any donations made in the future. Any suggestions would also be greatly appreciated.
SPRING ROAD CLEANUP
This year's spring cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 17. Please call Mike Phillips at 233-2510 or Tim Dsehaak at 233-2901 to schedule your section of road to clean. A chili feed follows the cleanup at the east side fire station and is a great way to meet neighbors and friends. Signs will be out early and bags and safety vests can be picked up at the Deer Lake Resort or the east side fire station. Lets pickup litter and keep our roads looking good.
COUGARS. BEARS, AND BUREAUCRACY
Larry Twitchell
DLPOA had the pleasure of a visit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at our January meeting. G. Allen Palmanteer, the Area Habitat Biologist, outlined the requirements for Hydraulic Project Approval whenever work is to be done at shoreline below the Ordinary High Water Line. The state legislature has given the Department of Fish & Wildlife the responsibility of preserving, protecting, and perpetuating all fish and shellfish resources of the state. To assist in achieving that goal, the legislature in 1949 passed a law now known as the "Hydraulic Code" (RCW 75.20.100-160). This law requires that any person, organization, or government agency wishing to conduct any construction activity in or near state waters must do so under the terms of a permit (called the Hydraulic Project Approval-HPA) issued by Fish and Wildlife. Yes, sadly, another layer of bureaucracy requiring a permit for something - that's the bad news. The good news is that the permit is free; so far. The types of activities here at Deer Lake requiring such a permit would be the installation of a new dock, excavation or disturbance of the shoreline, construction of anything at the shoreline, disturbance of existing reedbeds. pipeline crossing, and removal of debris. Fish and Wildlife claim their responsibility starts from the Ordinary High Water Line down to the surrounding waters. Discussion of just where that line is located, however, has gone on for years and is still being debated. You will have to work with the Fish and Wildlife representative to determine the exact line in your particular area.
You will need a Joint Aquatic Permit Application (JARPA). JARPA is an application form that consolidates seven permit application forms for federal, state, and local permits. A complete application consists of (1) general plans and specifications for the project, (2) complete plans and specifications for work within the ordinary high water line. and (3) complete plans and specifications for the protection of fish life. These permits may be obtained in person from the Fish and Wildlife office at 8702 N Division St. in Spokane (509/456-4082) and are processed and mailed to you within 30 days of submission. A 24-hour "hotline" (360/902-2537) is available for emergency calls during non-working hours. You can also download the form from the Internet at www.wa.gov/wdfw/hab/hpapage. All HPA applications in this area are assigned to the area Biologist, Mr. Palmanteer, who will visit your area and work with you on the project.
Residents are encouraged to report possible violations of this ordnance by calling the WDFW office in Spokane at 509/446-4082.
Sergeant Mike Charron and Officer Pam Taylor of the Enforcement arm of the Department of Fish and Wildlife discussed some of the wildlife problems we've had in this area concerning cougars, black bears, beaver, raccoons, and other varmints. If you're having trouble with raccoon, muskrats, skunks and other small animals you can call the WDFW for a list of contract trappers who will remove these from your area for a fee. Don't leave food items out or let garbage collect in your area and most of these varmints won't be a problem. Remember, it is no longer legal to use foam to float your docks; most muskrat problems go away with the new replacement of flotation materials.
Officer Taylor provided DLPOA with an excellent write-up on the bear and cougar situation in our area so let me repeat her submission:
HAVING BEAR PROBLEMS?
Black Bears are not normally aggressive animals, so attacks on humans are rare. As bear numbers increase and more bear habitat disappears, however, the greater the chances are of encountering a black bear. Bears will usually avoid people, but their size, strength and surprising speed make them a potential danger. Most confrontations with bears are a result of surprise encounters at close range, so take precautions to avoid startling a bear. Remember, because of their keen sense of smell, black bears are attracted to food and odors. You can reduce the potential for a black bear conflict by taking these precautions:
Don't leave food out that bears can get into. Keep pet foods and livestock feed indoors. Store garbage in cans with tight-fitting lids and store cans in your garage or a shed until pick up day.
Wash barbecue grills immediately after use, and keep any fish parts and meat waste in your freezer until they can be disposed of properly.
Put bird feeders away during the months of May through June.
Black bears tend to avoid humans, but should you come in close contact with one, here are some tips. Stay calm and avoid direct eye contact which could elicit a charge. Because bears are near-sighted, if one has not caught your scent, it could mistake you for prey. Try to stay upwind and identify yourself as a human by standing up, waving your hands above your head and talking. The bear will probably leave you alone.
If you have cleaned up your garbage, and have taken reasonable measures to deter bears from frequenting your location and are still having problems and the bear is acting abnormally, contact the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife for assistance at 509/456-4082.
COUGARS
Cougars prefer rocky terrain, dense brush and semi-open forests. The other essential ingredient is deer and elk, the cougar's main prey. Cougars are territorial animals and maintain home ranges of up to 100 square miles. The lions mark their territories with "scratch hills" or scrapes, leaves, grasses and dirt they rake together into small piles to urinate on. Most active at dawn and dusk, cougars are lone hunters designed for short bursts of speed. Cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. In North America, fewer than 29 fatalities and 75 nonfatal attacks have been reported during the past 100 years. As cougar numbers increase in Washington and habitat dwindles, the more likely you are to encounter a lion. Young, newly independent cougars of 1 or 2 years of age, presumable having difficulty finding food for themselves, account for the majority of the cougar/human interactions in Washington, If living in cougar country, especially wooded foothills:
Keep pets indoors or in secure kennels at night for safety. If practical, bring farms animals into enclosed sheds or barns at night, especially during calving or lambing season. Do not leave pet food or food scraps outside. Store garbage in cans with tight lids so odors don't attract small animals. When children are playing outdoors, closely supervise them and be sure they are indoors by dusk. Light walkways and remove heavy vegetation or landscaping near the house. Avoid feeding wildlife or landscaping with shrubs and plants that deer prefer to eat.
REMEMBER.....Predators follow prey!
If you do come fact to face with a cougar, your actions can either help or hinder a quick retreat by the lion. Here are some tips:
Stop, stand tall and don't run. Pick up small children immediately. Running and rapid movements may trigger an attack. Remember a cougar's instinct is to chase. Face the cougar, talk to it firmly and slowly back away. Always leave the animal an escape route. Try to appear larger than the cougar by getting above it. If wearing a jacket, open it to further increase your size. Do not take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide. Never approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens. Never corner the animal or offer it food. If the animal does not flee and shows signs of aggression, be more assertive...shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger. If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks and even your bare hands. Generally if you are aggressive enough, a cougar will flee realizing it has made a mistake.
If you wish to report a bear or cougar sighting, please call the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 509/456-4082.
We are definitely in bear and cougar country. Black bears have been sighted on Grouse Creek Road and around the lake last year. There may be a cougar den over at East Deer Lake. Fish and Wildlife say bears are generally trapped and relocated; cougars are eliminated. An article in the January 23rd edition of the Spokesman-Review reported that Stevens County Commissions are moving to form their own commission to address our cougar problems. This would result in the formation of a citizens group to monitor local cougar problems and put pressure on Fish and Wildlife to take positive action. Even Senator Bob Morton has jumped on the cougar/bear issue in a recent statement in the Chewelah Independent newspaper in which he states that, because of the quadrupling of confirmed cougar complaints since 1995, he has introduced a bill to provide full-value ompensation for livestock damaged by the state's wildlife.
PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS
One final admonition received from WDFW concerns parking in Public Access Areas - such as the boat launching area at North Deer Lake. It seems as though the public can't access these areas of public access without first paying a fee to WDFW. Even though you may be a property owner around the lake, it you launch, park or enter the WDFW Public Access Area, you must purchase and display a current access decal. These decals come free with the purchase of hunting and fishing licensing and can also be purchased separately where hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Vehicles found in the access area without permit will be ticketed. The permits are valid April 1 through March 31 for one year.
My thanks to the WDFW Officials, Mr. Palmanteer, Sergeant Charron, and Officer Taylor for taking their time to talk to us about the many things that affect our lives around the lake.
THE ENEMY YOU KNOW
Denny Heck has written a murder mystery with the above title, and the setting is in Loon Lake, Washington. Denny will be doing a reading from his book on June 7th at 7:00 PM at the Old Schoolhouse. And the books are currently available tor sale at the Old Schoolhouse.
WHERE ARE THE FISH?
BruceBassett
Summer fishing was tough at best. We are raising both Rainbow and Brook trout and have been stocking the lake for years. That and a dollar wouldn't buy a fish this last summer. Too hot? Yes. Are there still fish in the lake? Untold numbers. So what do we do now? Try catching Mack's. We have a huge population of Mack's that need thinned down. Mack's eat fish, any fish, and almost exclusively fish! They are caught by trolling, giging and still fishing.
The biggest are caught by trolling. In the spring use leadcore line, add 30 ft of 8-12 Lb leader and a lure. Some of the more successful lures are Lucky Louie's, Rappalas, or large, light weight spoons. Troll at or near the 30 foot depth on the north side, or in front of Julius terrace south to Tamarack Bay.
Now if you are a diehard, you will troll year around with stainless steel on the bottom with spoons or plugs, and jerk every time you feel the bottom. You need to be on the bottom in order to catch them with the exception of spring when they are caught in open water. When you catch one, don't throw it back. keep it and eat it!
Mack's have very oily pockets on their body and if not prepared correctly they taste terrible. To prepare the fish, simply cut down the back separating the fish into fillets. Next cut the white belly portion of the fish completely off. On the bigger fish this might be 2 to 3 inches of belly. Next cut the white or clear strip off the entire length on the top of the back. This should take care of most of the strong oil. Now cook by whatever method you like. I prefer to barbecue or cut into 2 by 3 inch strips and deep fry. They are excellent to eat.
A personal note: I catch a lot of Mack's while trolling, the largest to date 25 Lbs, 8 oz. They are great table fare! GOOD FISHING!!
FISHERIES
By Jim Santora
The winter batch of fish Is growing nicely. By the first of April they sjpi;d be 5 to 6 fish per pound. This winter the mortality rate has been very low.
In response to the question "why don't we raise silvers'" by one of our members, we could. But we could only raise one batch a year of 15,000 because they grow slower. I personally thought that I would rather raise two batches a year and release 30,000 fish to the lake.
There was also a question about why the fishing has not been very good. In my opinion, it is because the lake is loaded with natural food and the large increase in Mackinaws. Please do not catch and release the Mac's as they are good eating and it will help reduce the population in the lake.
FIREWOOD CUTTING
Virgil Stenderfer
DLPOA acquires a firewood cutting permit from Boise Cascade, The wood cutting areas are behind locked gates and I am given the combination as we are the only ones allowed to cut wood in that area. If you are interested in cutting wood call me at 233-9178 and I will put you on the list. When we go in to cut. I will call you. We go in several times a season and you can go in as many times as you like. There is a one time fee of $3.00 for the season and you must have your DLPOA dues paid. There are a few items you must have with you while cutting, such as a shovel, five gallons of water, and a fire extinguisher. Last year we took out about 30 cords. I have been assured we will have plenty of wood to cut this year as well. If you're interested, just call me. Virgil Standerfer. 233-9178.
WHAT DOES DLPOA DO?
By Mike Phillips, Secretary
This is an overview of our current activities to let you know what the board Is working on.
4th of July:
We are trying to improve the parade by changing some items. Parking will be outside the West Bay gate to the left. A color guard will lead the parade. All latecomers will enter at the end of the parade just in front of the Sheriff's car. The hot dogs will be warm. We will have fireworks again this year, but if more donations are not received we will not be able to continue with them. There will be the boat parade in the evening.
Fisheries:
Fish continue to enter the lake by several means. The hatchery dumps them directly into the lake. They bring very small fish to two net pens on the lake, that we maintain, and we raise them to release size. They put in Brook trout, Rainbows and Triploids are to come soon.
Transfer Station:
There was a public meeting for input on the long lines and delay problems of the transfer station. The county explained that they plan on moving the incoming traffic road. Around to the south side to get the traffic off the main road. They will put in a second scale which should improve the flow.
Roadside Cleanup:
We do the road clean ups in conjunction with the county "adopt a road" program. We can always use help in picking up litter around the lake and we have a free chill feed following the dean up at the east side fire station.
Fire Protection:
We are looking into several options to improve fire protection around the lake. The first is by providing more water outlets available to the fire department. The second is to build a fire station on the west side of the lake. A representative from the Fire Department attends our meetings fairly regularly. His information about the home identification number signs was included in our newsletter and minutes.
Patrol Boat:
We are looking into using the DLPOA boat for a citizens patrol of the late. This would be a no-contact patrol and problems would go by radio to the Sheriff's department and they would respond. Volunteers would cover patrol hours and get boat numbers and descriptions to assist the Sheriff.
Dock cleanup:
We had our first dock cleanup last spring. It was a huge success as about 17 docks were removed from the lake that were dangerous and eyesores. The project will be continued this year if we get enough volunteers to help tear the docks apart and move them to various disposal sites.
Our Commissioner:
Tony Delgado comes to most of our meetings. This is one way you can talk to him about concerns of our lake area. He reports on happenings in the county government and keeps us up to date on Stevens County business and helps us understand the problems facing the county. The communications between DLPOA and the county has been beneficial to both parties.
Internet Website:
DLPOA has a website. Dennis DeMattia keeps our site up to date. It is a lot of work keeping it current. If anyone has anything they would like to see on it, call one of our board members.