Presidents Letter
Winter Winter go away, Let Spring and Summer come and stay.
If you feel the same as I do, that Winter has been long and cold enough, the ever lengthening and slowly warming days are truly welcome. 2007 should be a great year at The Lake. The water is rising and, if the ice ever goes away, The Lake should be nice and full. Lets hope it doesn't drop as quickly as last year. With the water table recharged from last year we should see a significantly slower drop in the water level.
As always you are encouraged and invited to become more involved in DLPOA. From Spring clean-up to dock demo days to the 4th of July celebration, helping hands are always needed and welcome. There are several Board positions open at this time and if you are interested please plan on attending a Board meeting (2nd Thursday of the month) to see if this is something you would like to do. If you have any questions please contact any Board member. Please remember that DLPOA is here for you and Deer Lake so if you have any questions or concerns bring them to a Board meeting, the Annual Meeting, or discuss them with a Board member.
Looking forward to seeing you on and around The Lake this summer,
Your Pres.,
Larry Nokes
From the Newsletter Guy
We have spent a humongeous amount of time to try and get a good mailing list for the people who are interested in our lake. We have in fact done such a wunnerful job that we are probably sending newsletters twice to some of the same people, possibly at different addresses (like your home address and your lake address). While we really want you to get and enjoy your newsletters, it does cost some bux to do all this. So, if you should get an extra copy, please let us know, either at the PO Box listed above, or send me a screaming email at demattia (at) acm.org, and let us know which address we can bag.
Water Quality - by Mike Phillips
During the next Board meeting on March 8th, we will have a speaker to address what we can do as shoreline residents to keep our lake in good shape for generations. The main topic will be nutrient loading: how it happens and what we can do to prevent it. One of the visible results of loading is weed growth. Ken Merrill from the DOE will be there to answer questions after a presentation. Another specialist will also be there to cover the more technical aspects of shoreline management. The first part of the meeting will be in the pavilion, overlooking the lake at Camp Gifford. Start time is 7:00pm.or a few minutes later. The second part of the meeting is the board meeting, which will be downstairs in the dining hall. Everyone is invited to attend.
Lake Weed Control - by Mike Phillips
Several of our lake residents are looking into having some of the weeds removed from their dock areas. They are in contact with a specialist that is licensed to do that type of work in the lake. To make this undertaking financially feasible, there needs to be more people wanting to do the same thing at the same time. The specialist, Tom Wimpy, will be at our board meeting March 8th to explain what is needed to make it work. Anyone wanting more information is invited to attend. We will try to fit him in first at 7:00 pm in the Camp Gifford pavilion. His explanation will be short and he will take names and phone numbers to contact you later with more info.
Regional Lakes Conference - by Mike Phillips
I attended an annual conference at SCC on Saturday the 10th of February. Its basic concept was to share community restoration and management activities being done in the North Idaho and Eastern Washington area. They divide the day up into ½ to 1-hour segments to cover several different subjects. The speakers are specialists in different fields of lake management. They covered milfoil problems and solutions, funding of restorations, fishery restoration, responsible shoreline development and several other interesting pertinent subjects. There were about 150 people present. They were there to share information and to network with experts. Many area lake organizations were represented in the audience. All the governmental organizations were there to answer questions or add important information to the different subjects. Ken Merrill of the Dept. of Ecology was there to give a talk on protecting the lakes from manmade conditions along the shoreline. As mentioned in an earlier article, he will be at our March 8th meeting to give the same general presentation and answer questions.
If there are any questions re: the three articles please call Mike Phillips, 233-2510 for clarification or more information. Thank you.
DLPOA Property - by Larry Nokes
We are proceeding ahead with some preliminary planning for a DLPOA Center on the property donated to us a couple years ago. It is located across from 3862 N. Deer Lake Rd. and is an 8000 Square Foot parcel. We would like to make it a meeting center with the possibility of a senior center. It would be available for other group meetings. If you have an interest in helping with the planning or have any suggestions how to solicit funding, please give me a call or come to a Board meeting. We will plan on having a full presentation ready for membership approval at the Annual Meeting.
Property Taxes - by Larry Nokes
If your property has taken a rather sizeable leap in assessed value this year don't feel like the Lone Ranger. There has been considerable discussion on these increases and what impact they will have on our taxes. At our March 8th meeting someone from the Stevens County Assessors office will be there to answer some of these questions. If you too have questions or concerns please plan on attending the Board meeting at 7:00 PM at Camp Gifford (Salvation Army).
FREE FIREWOOD -- By Mike Phillips
As you drive north on Highway 395, from Loon Lake, you might notice all the slash piles on both sides of the road. Turning right on North Deer Lake Road there are more on both sides. This is a result of a fire protection project. Trees are nicely spaced with some habitat snags left. The piles have a lot of good firewood in them and are easily accessible. The only thing you have to do is call for a free permit from the DNR. These permits will show up in different places around Loon Lake. I do not have exact places yet, but try the gas stations or the post office. If not available, call the DNR at 1-509-684-7474.
Membership - by not the Membership guy
We have 800 or so homes on or near the lake. About half belong to DLPOA. We are always open to new members, which can be yours for the tiny price of only 15 George Washingtons, or 3 Abe Lincolns. (Or, send in an Andy Jackson and consider the extra a donation.) Speaking of which, we are very open to donations for the fireworks that we blow up on July 3. They don't give this stuff away, and the more we have in the kitty, the longer and louder will be the show. You can send both Dues and Donations in the envelope provided with this issue, or to the address on our masthead. If you already sent in dues from our previous passing of the collection plate, ThangGuVuryMch. If you have been waffling and waiting for your tax refund before you shell out, we are happy to collect dues all the way to December 31 of this year.
Fishing Report - by Jim Santora
My winter batch of fish is doing very well. The mortality rate is very low. They will be released just as soon as the ice leaves the lake.
NEXT YEAR the fishing season will open March 1 of 2008 instead of the last Saturday of April.
THIS YEAR the limits for what you can catch will change. The new limits are:
Small mouth bass daily limit: 10 fish, no minimum size, no more than one over 14" may be retained.
Trout daily limit: 5 fish, no more than 2 trout over 30" may be retained.
These changes are intended to restore and maintain the historic Kokanee fishery in the lake. The March opener is intended to allow anglers a better chance to catch lake trout when they are most active and vulnerable to angling pressure. Predation by small mouth bass and other warm water fish on Kokanee is very high. The separate limit of 10 smallmouth will allow anglers to harvest more of these fish. The change to the trout daily limit from 5 fish, no more than two over 20", to 5 fish, no more than two over 30", will allow anglers to harvest more lake trout in the 20" to 30" range , which will reduce the predation on the Kokanee population.
These new fishing limits will take affect May 1 2007. I hope 2007 is a great fishing year for every one.
Fourth of July - by Larry Nokes
This year's 4th of July Celebration should be as grand as ever. In that it falls in the middle of the week we have decided to have the Fireworks display on the evening of July 3rd. By doing this we also get a better deal and "a bigger bang for our buck." The kid's parade will be on the 4th as will be the boat parade. Please plan on participation, it's great fun.
One thing to keep in mind: for about 4 hours prior to the fireworks display the pyrotechnicians will be setting up their bang bang stuff on the fireworks docks and a minimum of wake near these docks will be greatly appreciated. No wake buoys will be set out to remind you to stay clear of the docks. (These docks will be on the North side of the lake, just before you get to the narrows.)
During the fireworks, that part of North Deer Lake Road will be closed off, so that we don't fire a rocket into somebody's car windshield. You are encouraged to view the fireworks from your boats in the middle of the lake. Just don't get too near the fireworks dock, because boats have windshields too....
Deer Lake Demolition Dock Day
by Bill Bajadali
Date of Demolition: June 2, 2007
Location: Sunrise Point
Each year, members of the Deer Lake Property Owners Association volunteer their time to rid Deer Lake of old, abandoned and derelict docks. These unwanted docks are towed to Sunrise Point, where they are removed from the lake and demolished. This is a great way to keep our shoreline clear of debris and our lake safe.
Please bring docks to be demolished to SUNRISE POINT, JUNE 2, 2007 between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Sunrise Point is adjacent to Pinelow Nazarene Church Camp.
If help is needed to tow a dock, please contact Bill Bajadali at 509 999-7487 to make arrangements.
Finally, we need volunteers, both for labor and tools for this fun event. If you can help, or know of a supervised youth group looking for a community service project, call Bill Bajadali at the above number.
Any one wanting firewood for camp fires etc. you are welcome to take some of the wood from the demolished docks.
HOT DOGS and REFRESHMENTS will be served.
From the Web Guy
Our web site, www.dlpoa.com, has a lot of information, some of which is interesting, and some of which is useful. On the interesting side, we have provided a weekly (almost) list of lake temperatures during the last several summers. The peak is generally around the first week in August, although last year it was a little early, probably due to global warming or something. We generally get up to about 75 degrees (taken 4 feet down, 20 feet out from the East shore), but last year we got to about 78. We got to 80 only once in the 12 years I have had a place here, the first year I was here.
The useful information ranges from the mundane (when the garbage dump is open) to the sublime (I have tried to provide a list of church services in the area). We have a place to list your house for rent, and it has been quite successful for the people that have used it.
Development Regulations
by Clay White, submitted by Maurice Paul
On November 9, 14, and 16, 2006 the Stevens County Board of Commissioners held an open record hearing on the August 2006 Stevens County Revised Draft Development Regulations. At the conclusion of the hearing on the 16th of November, the Board closed the record to further comment. Between December 4 and January 30, 2007, the Board reviewed the record of comments received. On January 30, 2007, the Board directed that changes be made to both the text and maps contained within the regulations. Because changes have been made, an additional opportunity to provide both written and oral comment is being provided. Changes are in response to public comment and Planning Council, Planning Commission, and staff recommendations. I think you will find that many of the changes were also recommended by the Planning Commission. One of your members, George Renner, has been a valuable member of the Planning Commission as we have moved through this very difficult process.
I expect that the document will be back out for comment next week. Everyone on our mailing list will receive a postcard.
The County website, www.co.stevens.wa.us, will provide a "red line" copy of the revisions and a "clean" version. The "red line" copy will show all of the changes, while the "clean" version will show the Development Regulations with all changes accepted.
Comments, both written and oral, are restricted in scope to only those items changed within the August 25, 2006 Revised Draft Development Regulations. Both text and map changes may be viewed at the Land Services office or Land Services website located at www.co.stevens.wa.us. Copies of the revised document will also be available at local city halls and libraries.
Written comments must be submitted no later than the close of the open record hearing to be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007. Written comments should be directed to: Jenni Anderson, Planner, Land Services Department, 215 S. Oak--Courthouse Annex, Colville , WA , 99114 or email at: janderso@co.stevens.wa.us. Oral comments will be accepted by the Board of County Commissioners on March 13, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be held at the Stevens County Ag-Trade Center located at 317 W. Astor Ave , Colville .
This process is the same process we followed on the Comp Plan before adoption. We have a number of changes being proposed and we want to make sure everybody gets a chance to comment on them before they are considered for adoption. Unless additional changes are made, I would expect we will adopt in late March/early April.
Emergency Services -- by Gerry Block
Dear neighbors and friends of Deer Lake, by the time you receive this article, perhaps spring will be in the air. Today we are viewing some fresh snow. My neighbor, Jeanne, states, "Large snow flakes, no snow and small flakes a lot of snow". We have had small flakes all day. This might be our winter snowfall. We have been very fortunate to have enjoyed plenty of sunshine while the mountains have had more than ample amounts of snow, for the skiers, snowboarders etc. The freeze over of Deer Lake has allowed several folks to enjoy the outdoor activities that have been hindered by all of the slippery driveways and walkways. Being able to walk on a smooth, non -slippery surface has been wonderful!
The SCFD #1 is looking for volunteers as firefighter and EMT'S. I know that you probably are tired of me harping/nagging on this issue, but it is important for our community. We have seen a change of neighbors and the new folks are Health/Critical Care Certified. Our fire district and your neighbors would appreciate the volunteering of your time, knowledge and skills as a member of our community. Any excuses you might want to offer, I could counter any of them. It is up to an individual, if one wants to help the community. PLEASE consider volunteering your valuable time to our community. One phone call to our fire district office, 262-9660 then punch "0" may help you decide the question of volunteering for the Deer Lake response teams. We need your help!
I know that some of you have been aware of the meetings between the Stevens County Fire Marshall, Stevens County Commissioners and our own SCFD#1 Fire Commissioners, regarding the "NO BURN RULES". The "No Burn" rule applies to everyone! When the "no burn" is posted, that means exactly that, no burning! We currently are allowed to burn yard and garden waste, have BBQ's, beach fires, etc. while we are in our approved burning season. DO NOT RELY ON THE DNR RULES FOR BURNING! BURN BARRELS HAVE BEEN BANNED SEVERAL YEARS AGO! If you have "burning" questions, please see the burning rules, posted at Station #5, Deer Lake or check www.SCFD1.com. Sure hope that this helps everyone answer any "burning" issues.
Should you have a member of our response team appear on your property for a violation, you may be counseled regarding the incident. If your activity is non compliant with the fire district's regulations, you will have a report written up, regarding the issues and a notice will be sent to the Dept. of Ecology. This is where the report may get expensive. The DOE will decide if the incident is a violation and you may receive a fine for $1000! Please comply with the rules, for all of our safety.
Thanks for your co-operation!
LOST AND FOUND
Found in Pebble Beach area last fall:
12' Hughcraft Fishing Barge.
Call: Arlen at 233-3009
Coming Events:
Board Meeting Thursday Mar 8 7PM
Board Meeting Thursday Apr 12 7PM
Board Meeting Thursday May 10 7PM
Spring Cleanup Day Saturday May 12th
Dock Demo Day Saturday June 2nd
Annual Meeting Saturday June 9th
Pancake Feed Sunday July 1st
Fireworks Tuesday July 3rd
Boat Parade Wednesday July 4th
Kids Parade Wednesday July 4th
Fall Cleanup Day Saturday September 22nd
For a list of board members and their assignments, please see our web site at www.dlpoa.com/officers
This newsletter put together by Dennis DeMattia 926-8848 demattia(at)acm.org