November 1987
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
I would like to thank the many concerned property owners of Deer Lake for their support given to me as your newly-elected president. At the June annual meeting you elected, also, Jerry McBride, vice-president; Barbara Reed, secretary; new directors Charles Barker and Chuck Phelan; and re- elected Howard Wohric, Jerry Linton, and Clair Jones as directors.
In case you do not know, you have 12 directors and 4 officers of your association. Each of these directors has many years, some ten or more, of boardmanship with DLPOA and continues to give the association many hours of service, ideas and expertise. The board meets on the second Wednesday of each month, except December and August, at 7:30 PM in the Deer Park Hospital lower-level meeting room. You are all welcome to attend.
There are many topics I would like to touch upon. The first of importance is the water quality of Deer Lake. It is quite evident that we have a problem. If you looked at the water since late July, and even still today, the presence of degradation is evident. It should be clear in everyone's mind that we will continue to be in trouble until a sewer system is built around the lake.
Algae growth comes from high nutrient levels and thrives as long as the nutrients continue. It is equally apparent that if we are to resolve this problem, now is the time to get your support for the sewer. No longer can we sit back and let nature take its course. We will probably have to fund the total project ( $4 million) ourselves, but it can be done in little bits each year over a 20-year span. Please give us your support when we ask for it. Petitions will have to be signed by each property owner, with the majority needed to approve. It may not be easy, but it is not impossible.
Your support ($19,000) was evident when we asked for it in December for the purchase of the land at the head of the narrows. This will help, but it is only a small part of the solution. A committee has been appointed, under the leadership of Leroy Johnson, to review all the improvements that will be possible with this purchase. In time, you will see some changes and improvements, i.e. fences, wildlife nesting areas, plant growth, trees, etc.... all pleasing to the eye and less contaminating to the lake water.
Your next involvement as a property owner is your membership in DLPOA, $12 it little to pay in dues, but is great support for the many projects that your board is working on in your behalf. Your money will be spent wisely, you can be assured of. Send your membership dues to our treasurer: Kathryn Bean, N. 2803 Stout Rd., Spokane, WA 99208. Check payable to DLPOA, please.
I said lastly, at the beginning of this paragraph, that you can do something else beneficial. Give your vote and support for the election of KEN BARKER as fire commissioner of District 1. Ken is a qualified and dedicated volunteer with many years' experience. We need that experience in a commissioner in a district where each year response calls have grown over 10. Your property, as a home or secondary residence, is just as valuable or more so if it Is in a highly-paid and profession fire district. The only difference is that here we have over 140 volunteers who, without pay, respond day or night to calls for assistance. That assistance may someday save your life.
In the past, DLPOA has not supported a candidate for an elected office. Now the need is apparent, and the qualities of Ken are available to us all. Therefore, your DLPOA board and I cannot help but be enthusiastically supportive for the election of KEN BARKER as fire commissioner.
Lastly, we now have an official and hopefully permanent address, regardless of any changes of leadership. Please don't hesitate to write to us and share your opinions and concerns relating to Deer Lake.
Here is that address:
Deer Lake Property Owners' Association
Post Office Box 250
Loon Lake, WA 99148
Thank you! Lee Bayley
WALPA MEETS
The Washington State Lake Protection Association (WALPA) held its first annual meeting and workshop in Ellensburg on September 1, 1987. The workshop was designed to bring together lake homeowners, educators, lake managers, public officials, and concerned individuals to exchange ideas and discuss lake management Issues.
The program was most informative and educational. The topic of the program was "Ecology of the Lake Systems". This included physical, chemical, and biological, characteristics, and lake sampling and monitoring. The workshop was well attended by those representing all membership categories.
Much has been accomplished by this association in its first year of existence. The Increase of membership has been very positive. The newly-elected president for 1987-88 is Joseph Heineck of Lake Stevens, Washington. Plans for the coming year were discussed. Included was making resource material and educational programs available to lake association such as ours.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
This committee continues to keep in touch with elected officials about the deteriorating quality of Deer Lake water, working toward their assistance in ways to improve it. The following article is reprinted from the September 4, 1987, Spokane Chronicle.
A copy of the above article was mailed to Senator Daniel J. Evans on September 25, asking him to inform DLPOA what this board should do to have Deer Lake qualify for such an aerial survey. You will be informed in the next newsletter of any further developments to this request.
Clair N. Jones, Legislative Chair
Vi and Ed Sweet
ROAD MAINTENANCE REPORT
At the last DLPOA board meeting, Clive Price, County Commissioner, explained in detail what is involved in a typical road maintenance project. To the average taxpayer, it is almost unbelievable how much time and money it takes to do a "simple" grading or oiling job. Clive pointed out that Stevens County has thousands of miles of roads which must be maintained. Many of them are highly traveled roads in far worse shape than those around Deer Lake. The budget and manpower will stretch only so far, and setting proper priorities is an onerous task. In spite of the keen competition for funds, the county did manage to complete two long-awaited road projects for Deer Lake. On the east side of the lake, a new seal coating was laid from the "Y" to the end of the oil, greatly improving that stretch of road. On the west side, much to the delight of the Gardner Acre residents, main roads through the Acres were graded and oiled, relieving the dust situation immeasurably.
As grateful as we are for work already accomplished, your Road Maintenance Committee will continue to push for further improvements. At the top of our priority list is grading of the road around the south shore. It is in abominable condition. Clive said the commissioners acknowledge that fact but can make no promises as to when that project can be placed on the calendar.
Clive also added, as a point of Information, that we must be made aware that grading projects, to be most effective, should be completed after extended periods of rainfall. He stated that grading the south shores road, for example, right now, after the unusually dry spell we have had this fall, would be an Irresponsible waste of money. We thank Stevens County, again, for its help. Theirs is a tough job, and we appreciate It. Nevertheless, we will continue to be a "squeaky wheel" in hopes of getting a little "grease" (or should we say "oil") for our roads.
Inga Lord, Road Maintenance Chair
WATER SAFETY REPORT
Deer Lake has had another great summer with no casualties or injuries. There was one accident...a speedboat ran into a fishing boat in daylight hours. Fortunately, the occupants saw the speedboat coming, so they jumped into the water. Luckily, they were swimmers. A citation was issued to the speedboat operator.
Water-Deputy Sam Smith did a great job this past summer. The sheriff's boat was on the water 146 hours, and Sam used his own boat for added patrolling hours. All of this was done as a volunteer with no pay.
In the interest of safety, Sam has been asking that boats going for a speedy ride around the lake go in the same direction as the ski boats have to go (counter-clockwise). So, if you are out on the lake for a ride, slow or fast, please consider going counterclockwise, also.
Stevens County Sheriff Dick Andres announced that the water ordinance in the county has been revised. Copies of the new ordinance will be available next spring. All should get copies and read them. Sheriff Andres plans to step up enforcement of the ordinance on all Stevens County lakes in order to make the waterways safer and more enjoyable for us all.
Dick has been very helpful in our water safety program on Deer Lake. The sheriff's boat was painted this past spring. New insignias were put on it to make it more officially visible. Our many thanks go to Dick and Sam!
Howard Wohrle, Chair of Water Safety
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE REPORT
This past summer saw an algae bloom on Deer Lake which generated many questions: What is it? Answer: It is a form of blue-green algae with the scientific name "Gloeotrichia". Under a microscope it has a central sphere with long cones (legs) coming off of it.
Js It harmful? Answer: No. It does not have poisonous effects like some forms of blue-green algae.
What caused It? Answer: The three biggest factors are probably warm weather, low water levels, and the presence of nutrients to feed the algae. It is this last factor which concerns this committee the most. Has Deer Lake reached a level of nutrients it is from various sources of pollution so that this algae will become annual problem? At this point, we don't know.
When will It go away? Answer: As the water cools, this algae will die and go away. This creates a new problem! Decomposition of the algae consumes oxygen dissolved in the water. Due to the adequate size and depth of Deer Lake, this probably won't cause a serious reduction of dissolved oxygen. Our fish should not. be in danger. In small and shallow lakes, this condition is a common cause of fish kills during the winter when the lake is frozen over.
What can we do to prevent a recurrence of this problem? Answer: At this point, because all the facts aren't yet known, it is only speculation to say that water pollution caused it. We need to study the problem in a scientific manner. If the study lists pollution as the cause, we need to eliminate it by putting in a sewer system and reducing or eliminating other pollution sources.
There are several things that you as individuals can do to help:
1. If you have a lawn on your lake property, be very careful about the type of fertilizer used and its application.
2. Used motor oil contains many "heavy metals", such as lead and copper. Putting this type of oil on roads near the lake to keep the dust down can lead to these metals being washed into the lake, polluting it.
Your Water Quality Committee will continue to work at getting the testing and, hopefully, a sewer system which would protect Deer Lake in the future.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or suggestions.
Jerry McBride, Chair of Water Quality
WOODCUTTING REPORT
It was a very good year for woodcutting. Cutters got an early start. Much wood was harvested despite the Department of Natural Resources late-summer ban on woodcutting because of fire danger in the dry woods. 53 DLPOA members signed up to cut wood. 44 participated. 150 cords of wood were cut and taken.
Thank you, Boise-Cascade Company, for letting us, again, cut wood on your property. Thank you, Kevin Eddings, for all your time and cooperation in our woodcutting operation.
This year at the annual June meeting of DLPOA, a committee consisting of Charles Barker and Ken Brinkman was appointed to help us. We thank them for all their help.
Lew and Claire Houdak, Chairs
PLANNING DISTRICT REPORT:
In the June issue of this newsletter, I wrote about the latest developments regarding the proposed addition to the Deer Lake Fire Station. I am sorry to say that this hoped-for project has been put in a hold position. Since that time, two board members of DLPOA attended a Stevens County Fire Commissioners' meeting. There was discussion about our fire station addition and also talk about purchasing new fire trucks.
The fire commissioners have decided to purchase new fire trucks for the Look Lake fire station and the Turn Turn station. Our Deer Lake station will get Loon Lake's old fire truck. The fire commissioners felt the need for new trucks had priority over the Deer Lake fire station addition.
Our association will continue to work with the fire commissioners to, hopefully, get started on the station addition as soon as possible. You will be kept Informed of the latest developments.
Again, we want to thank the Stevens County fire commissioners for all their time and effort in joining our association with a common goal in mind. That is, to get started on the construction as soon as possible!
FIRE DANGER. Our summer was hot and dry! The woods are still very dry, so the fire danger remains high. DLPOA thanks all of you for the terrific job you did preventing fires this past season. We all know how dangerous and costly fires can be and what an ugly sight they leave us with for years and years. The fire danger is not over ,yet, so please continue being very careful.
THE DEER LAKE BASIN AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Residential and recreational communities of the Pacific Northwest are facing the harsh realities of "development" without responsible long-range planning. Properties on lake fronts are becoming ever more scarce as populations grow. Water quality and natural beauty can so easily become irrevocably lost as lakes are subjected to stresses from which they cannot recover. Property values and pleasantries of living on a lake can easily become second- and third-rate.
DLPOA, through its board of directors, properly recognizes that a 1,200 acre lake, relatively shallow and without any flushing ability (no major inlet or outlet of consequence), can stand only so much strain.
Twice in recent years, the board has submitted requests to the planning division of Stevens county for general zoning of the Deer Lake basin. The prime intent has been to seek sound construction procedures and sewage disposal regulations in case a major housing development were proposed within the basin.
It was not the Intent of our requests to prevent such a development, but to protect current property holders from and Improper and over-usage of lake facilities, and to receive guarantees against pollution and deterioration. Also our requests sought more specific guidance for further growth and building in general.
DLPOA awaits a firm set of recommendations from Stevens county. When it arrives, this newsletter will Inform its readers.
Ted Maxson, chairman
Jerry Linton, chairman
Vital Statistics: DLPOA AT WORK
Purpose: "to protect the lake from environmental depredation" ..."and to do all .and everything necessary, suitable. and proper for the accomplishment of the purposes.
Founded: in 1974, with 17 members.
Now
in 1987 we have 357 members.
Major Accomplishments:
1. purchased a patrol boat for the sheriffs.
2. helped purchase a rapid response vehicle.
3. helped equip a fire department and station.
4. began the Secret Witness program for property pro1ection.
5. purchased 22 acres of land for water protection.