PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
DLPOA NEEDS HELP!!!!
As the lake season draws to a close it is time to take a look at how things are at the lake. The water appears to be fine, even though it's extremely low. No milfoil so we've dodged another bullet for the year. Clean-ups went quite well and Fourth of July was another great success. We eliminated a bunch more derelict docks.
DLPOA is facing a major crisis though. With more people moving to the lake it is getting increasingly difficult to keep the board full and to get people to help. The same ones show up to help with the few projects we have and that number is decreasing. Taking care of our lake is every bodies responsibility but it continues to be done by a dedicated number of people,
DLPOA is a great organization that does good things to preserve and protect the lake. Please take time to consider participating as a board member or as a helper bee for our projects. We have several positions that need to be filled on the board and your interest and participation would be greatly appreciated by all.
I know, from experience, that helping to keep our lake a great place to live and recreate is personally very rewarding. If more people participated the time required is minimal. You can contact any board member or come to a board meeting if you are interested. Please consider participating because without more help all the things that we want and need to do will not get done.
Thank you for your consideration and past efforts. Feel free to call me with any questions or comments at 233-2088.
MEMBERSHIP
This is your first chance to pay the DLPOA annual dues of $15.00 for 2006. If you know of anyone who would like to become a member, please encourage them to join. By renewing or becoming a new member, you are contributing toward the preservation and improvement of Deer Lake.
We are also looking for volunteers as well as a few new people to serve as directors of DLPOA. We hope you will join us in working toward the goals we have set forth for the future.
Thanks to all of you who have provided continuing support to DLPOA.
WATER QUALITY
This summer DLPOA and the PUD paid to have some water quality testing done so a comparison could be made with previous tests done over the last 20 years or so. Dave Lamb, a multi-talented water resource person set the testing up and is in the process of compiling and comparing the. results with other data. The actual collecting of water samples, electronic data and laboratory work was done by the Spokane Tribal Laboratories. The final results should be ready for our November meeting.
The lake is the lowest I've seen it in 17 years but some of the old timers say it has been lower. We will need an above average winter snowfall or several above average winters to get back to normal. .
Hopefully nobody has done any digging below the normal high water mark. If they have and dug too deep, the water may drain out when it does get full again.
I was shown some pictures taken in 1974 that show the high water at that time to be higher than in 1996 when the lake flooded. If anyone has pictures of high and low marks, I would like to see them. Please call 233-2510.
Jennifer Parsons, aquatic plant specialist for the State of Washington, did a survey of the complete shoreline. They found no Eurasian milfoil.
They did note an increase in big leaf pondweed. It grows in 6-12 ft. of water. It is in a fairly continuous band all the way around the lake. They also noted a lot of algae attached to the plants on the west shoreline. If anyone is interested in a list of the plants found in the lake, contact me.
ROADSIDE CLEANUP
On September 17, 2005 DLPOA did their fall roadside cleanup.
The attendance was disappointing. Most of the roads were cleaned but not all of them. We took about 1400 Ibs to the dump, which is below normal. There were snacks afterward at the fire station on the east side of the lake.
Thank you to all that participated. We hope to see more people out next year for the spring cleanup on May 20, 2006.
DOCK DEMOLITION
Dock demolition day will be held again next year. We are hoping to operate very similar to how it was done this year.
For information call George Renner at 233-2817.
ANNUAL PANCAKE FEED
Next year, as in the past, DLPOA will hold the annual pancake feed on July 2, 2006 at the Deer Lake Fire Station. This is DLPOA's largest fund producer and if you wish to continue this tradition we need your help.
Call Lee Bayley at 326-0954 to get further Information.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Many thanks to everyone for the safe summer. We did have a couple of fires in our area, but neither one was too challenging for the fire crews. A huge thanks to Lt. Don Stragis, St. #5 for calling for the DNR air support during the fire above North Deer Lake Rd.
A word of caution for the boaters that continued to use the water in the area of the helicopter. PLEASE allow the pilot to safely scoop or load his bucket from the lake. The drone of the PBY should alert one to any activity overhead. The helicopter may not produce a loud enough noise to/be heard above some of the boat motors. If you should ever see a low flying plane, please get out of the way! "Rubbernecking" is also dangerous on the water.
It is time to adopt a fire hydrant for the winter. Discuss this with your neighbors. It would be great to have a three foot clearing from the middle of the hydrant. This space allows the hydrant person ample room to maneuver for a safe hose connection. Valuable time is wasted if the crew needs to shovel out a very crusted snow bank.
SCFD #1 has requested that I mention this issue again. Parking spots in some areas are very limited. Please think about the need for fire/EMS vehicles attempting to respond to your home area. This is not a seasonal problem, but one that is a continual concern for your first responders. We need to think of enough distance for several large trucks to respond to a 911 call. The responders need ample space to back in or turn around, depending on hydrant location or ambulance needs. During the summer months, it is the weekenders that visit and take up road space. I realize that this was a bad year for the public boat launch. If we don't receive the predicted "normal" snow this winter, the Deer Lake community will be in dire need of water. Please consider a "buddy system" for any extra company that needs ingress and egress to the lake.
This also includes the possibility of a heavy snowfall. We all have to do the snow plow /shovel routine. Please allow plenty of space for any fire/EMS vehicles. A little bit of extra effort may save a life or a home.
FISHERIES
I had to release my fish early due to a gill disease the fish contacted, called Columnaris. This is caused by parasites in the water caused by warm shallow water. The area biologist instructed me to release them.
I received my next batch of fish during the week of October 17th. They are 15,000 Rainbows.
We had an intensive fish survey during the late summer and the results of this survey won't be available until February 2006. I will report the results in the next newsletter.
From all reports, this has been a very good fishing year, and my granddaughter Catherine Santora caught a 6 Ib Eastern Brook off of my dock. Lets hope this trend continues.
We have two net pens available for use and I would gladly help anyone interested in this project. The net projects are a lot of fun.
DLPOA PROPERTY
It is time for all DLPOA members to start thinking about a plan for our property. Please take a few minutes to let President Larry Nokes know what ideas or suggestions you have and what you would like to see done on our property.
LOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Remember, Everyone planning any improvement project on your beaches and along the shoreline will need to apply for permits. This includes NEW DOCKS and replacement of OLD DOCKS. Bringing in sand, moving rocks, installing retaining walls, etc. An HPA permit is needed through the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as possible a shorelines permit from the County. Doing projects without permits can get you a substantial fine. Contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife if you are planning or thinking about a project on your property.
DLPOA BOARD MEETINGS
The meeting place for the DLPOA board will be at the Salvation Army Camp Gifford starting with the November 10th meeting. This is a change from meeting at the elementary school.
The meetings start at 7:00 PM and guests are welcome to attend any meeting.
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 fish pens in conjunction with the Fish & Wildlife Department, we are constantly on the look out for an invasion of Eurasian milfoil, and the newsletter is a way of informing everyone about what is taking place in our community. The twice yearly road clean-ups and our annual meeting with potluck are ways you can be of service and meet your neighbors and friends. The 4th of July fireworks and two parades add to our list of activities.
So take the time to support DLPOA in the form of your dues and donations, this couldn't be done without you.