January 22, 1979
Greetings ... Yes, indeed we have had some cold weather but our snowfall seems to be a bit lower than usual. Many days have been bright and beautiful.
Your Board of Directors has met regularly each month and occasionally special sessions have been called. Individual members have gone to almost innumerable meetings in the interest of the lake.
OUR SEWER PROJECT - WHERE IT STANDS
Your Board of the Deer Lake Property Owners Association brings to you a review of events and decisions bearing upon our proposed sewer project.
In December, the Stevens County Public Utility District Commissioners denied the request, made to them through petition of the property owners of the lake, to form a sewer district and proceed with relative matters as outlined in the petition. (See excerpts from resolutions by the P.U.D. Commissioners at the end of this article.)
The Board of Directors of DLPOA has spent long hours trying to assess the full import of this decision and other factors bearing upon our "clean water project."
THREE STEPS: The sewer project has been viewed in three steps.
STEP I - Facility Plan which gave tentative design, plan and general feasibility. This is complete.
STEP II - Design Phase giving construction plan and engineering procedure necessary before construction can begin. Estimated cost - $380,000.
STEP III - Actual Construction and related matters.
OUR MAJOR HURDLE: In spite of what any of us may have read or heard anywhere, it appears that DOE from which grant funds have been sought to assist in the cost of the project, would supply but 40 of the $380,000 requested for Step II. This leaves about $228,000 to be raised from some other source in order to begin Step II. This is the immediate unresolved hurdle of major proportion. [Please remember that all figures are estimates and projections with a possible overall cost of $4,875,000 as of now.]
In Further Review: In the Fall of 1975 a study of Deer Lake was made, as early as 1973 it was reported that early stages of contamination were showing indicating the need for better sewer facilities. DLPOA surveyed its membership in February 1977 as to whether it would direct its officers to circulate a petition requesting construction of a sewer system around the lake. As the replies were essentially affirmative, petition was circulated, returned and delivered to the P.U.D. and was officially certified as meeting majority requirements.
Funding: Funding was sought from government agencies to carry the major portion of costs. (F.H.A., D.O.E-, and E.P.A.)
Letters: Sent to high government officials.
Testimony: By members of DLPOA Board in July 19, 1978, before representatives of government agencies mentioned above in a significant Spokane meeting.
Public Hearing: Called by the P.U.D. Commissioners on the project on October 6, 1978. Well attended. Brochures, financial matters and related discussion were open for critical analysis.
Funding - Priority and Limitations: Since it was learned that the D.O.E., from which funds had been sought, was in process of lowering the funding priority of the Deer Lake project, Dave Nixon of our Board testified in Olympia before D.O.E. requesting reinstatement of the project priority. It appears that this has or will take place but does not insure more than a 40 funding of Park 11 cost as earlier stated.
P.U.D. Commissioners Meetings: A number were attended by members of our Board.
January Meeting of DLPOA Board: The January 10 meeting, after long discussion, led to the appointment of a special committee by President Bill Paton. This Committee makes the following statement:
"We are giving critical study to a position to be suggested to our membership. We are obtaining additional information as to possible alternatives and will report to the February Board meeting of DLPOA. This will be followed by a special communication to DLPOA members."
Excerpts from P.U.D. Commissioners' Resolutions referred to above:
The Commissioners resolution No. 254, reads in part: "The Commission finds the cost of the project to property owners would, in their belief, exceed $1,300,000.00 and find this was a major consideration of the signers thereto at the date of signing in telling the Commission approximately the financial limits and the economical value to the petitioners as a feasible project. The information from all sources, including the hearing, Including finances available from granting agencies and other sources, makes the request appear to the Commission not financial or economically feasible within the petition's limitations, or within the legal means or policy of the P.U.D. Commissioners, and no such improvement shall be ordered as of this date."
In a companion resolution (No. 255) approved the same day, the P.U.D. Commissioners stated in part:
" the property owners, or any interested person or group of persons provide the funds necessary to complete Step II, that are not provided by D.O.E. and E. P.A., and deposit or guarantee that portion of the cost, as provided in the last Section of R.C. W. 54.16.150, That the Stevens County P.U.D. will apply for Step II funding from D.O.E. and E.P.A. and proceed with Step II [Design]."
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In the meantime - it is vital that we have clean water. What can we learn from experiences on other lakes?
A major trust lies in the hands of each and every property owner of Deer Lake. If the lake water is to be pure (most of us use the lake as our only source of water), and if the beauty of the shoreline and environs is to continue as one of our most coveted natural resources - we have a job to do. It is a matter of personal integrity and responsibility. Deer Lake can be "lost" if we do not take individual responsibility. Your Board is in direct and constant communication with those responsible for building permits, sewage disposal systems and the like.
We came upon a most helpful manual entitled "Protecting North Idaho's Lakes - a Citizen Handbook." We can learn from it. We have sought and received permission to quote from this booklet which was prepared by the Kootenai Environmental Alliance and the Idaho Conservation League. The "aging" process of specific North Idaho lakes; their growing population density problems directly affecting living conditions of lake dwellers are quite detailed and specific. In this issue of NEWSLETTER we give merely a series of random quotes to better understand actual or potential problems of Deer Lake:
"Pollution of a lake is a direct result of the way the land is being used around that lake. Houses along the shoreline often have improperly functioning septic tanks or other sewage disposal systems that can pollute the lake, both with bacteria and nutrients. Erosion is a pollutant, because the soil carries natural fertilizers, or nutrients into the lake and allows rapid algae and water weed growth. Anything that causes erosion - grading for construction, road building, logging etc - pollutes the lakes by causing algae and other water weeds to grow.
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"One of the most serious contributors to lake pollution, though, is sewage from faulty home sewage disposal systems. Fortunately, this source of pollution is also on of the easiest to correct, with a little knowledge on the part of the homeowner. Correcting sewage disposal systems is particularly important to lake homeowners because of the many lake homes which rely on lake water for drinking water. No one wants to feel that he or she is drinking sewage.
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"Disposal of water from kitchen sinks can also be a problem for the lakes. Some lakeshore homes let their kitchen wastewater run directly into the lake, rather than into a sewage disposal system. Kitchen wastewater often contains nutrients from detergents, grease and fats, and organic matter such as plate scrapings that all add to lake pollution. Many lakeshore homes are still using these outdated sewage systems, as the table shows. These sewage systems will continue to threaten the lakes as long as they continue to operate."
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Erosion control ordinances that cities and counties should adopt to reduce erosion Pollution can also address proper procedures for filling and dredging. Lake homeowners should support this kind of ordinance for lake protection.
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Through lake associations, citizens can influence the decision-making process about their lakes. They can encourage local officials to adopt measures which will help protect the lakes, such as erosion control measures, provisions for building setbacks from the shoreline, and lake master plans. Lake associations can be involved in the formulation of these lake protection measures and lake master plans.
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Lakeshore residents can help educate their lakeshore residents through lake associations. These citizen groups can institute a sewage system maintenance program, which would include regular sewage system inspections and pumping to help protect the lakes from sewage pollution. In addition, lake associations can provide information to lake residents about how to reduce their contributions to lake pollution.
GOAL - PURE WATER: Most of the homes and cottages about Deer Lake use the lake water for household use. If we are to have good water and retain the beauty of the shoreline we have a major trust placed in our hands as owners of property within the watershed of this beauty spot.
Members: A record number of memberships, 208, is reported by our Treasurer, Kathryn Bean.
Roads: Road improvements on the South Shore were made last summer and are reported "best ever."
Fish: Wes Wagoner, chairman of our "Fish Committee", reports that a cooperative experimental plan to hatch extra trout for Deer Lake is underway involving him and members of the Fish and Game Department. Wes reported that bout 40,000 fish (10,000 rainbow and 30,000 easterns) will be planted this spring - same as last year.
Shorelines: We understand that officers of Stevens county are studying environmental laws which will affect Deer Lake. Your Board has asked for representation.