President’s Report – Bruce Bassett
Welcome back to a new and progressive New Year. I hope the summer and fall have been good to you. Did you enjoy the DLPOA annual picnic? Did you know that we have over 700 members and are the largest property owners association in the state of Washington? This next June lets bring out the whole family with a larger turnout and really get to know each other. We will be expanding on the picnic with games for the kids and who knows what additional surprises.
Now we must take up where we left off and address the new challenges. We start with a number of new officers and directors along with the new ideas they bring. The newly elected members are: Bruce Bassett, President; Tim Dschaak, VP; Jerry Brinkman, Treasurer; Mike Phillips, Secretary. The new Directors include Pete Clark, Dean Crump, Don Newhall, Larry Nokes, mark Kirkendall, Tom Rowse and Teresa Waunch. We would like to welcome these new members who were elected at our annual meeting last June. We have added a number of new committees to explore some of the challenging issues we are looking at such as – Flood Control, Noise Control, a No Shooting Zone, and Jet Ski Control. Our present ongoing committees are fisheries, water safety and quality, lake beautification, emergency services, road maintenance, newsletter, membership, public relations and land conservancy. If you wish to serve on any of these committees, we welcome your help.
Eurasian Milfoil Challenge Continues
Milfoil treatment on Loon Lake is showing promising results according to Jim Richardson in a recent interview. Eurasion water-milfoil was drastically reduced after the application of "Navigate TM". There were a few disappointments according to Jim, primarily due to the location of a few underground springs in certain treated areas and some of the very large, older mother plants were stunted but not eliminated. However, given that there was only one treatment and the rate of the herbicide usage was on the low end of the allowable scale, it is felt the results were very promising. Preliminary estimates indicate the treatment was approximately 70% effective. At this time there appears to be no adverse effects to the fish, humans, or habitat in general. The native aquatic vegetation appears to be healthy after the treatment.
Eurasion milfoil is showing up at many other lakes in Northeastern Washington and we need to be alert to any signs of this weed getting a start in Deer Lake.
To Wave of Wave Goodbye – Larry Nokes
Sidebar – Legal precedent has been established in San Juan county for a total ban on jet skis.
Over the last couple of years there has been an increased concern over the use of personal watercrafts (PWCs), specifically jet skis and waverunners, on Deer Lake. Your board members are attempting to formulate a fair policy concerning their usage around the lake and your help and opinions are needed. Some of the items discussed so far range from a total ban on the use of PWCs to limiting time and/or days of operation. Legal precedent has been established for such controls, so if a majority favor a specific action, rules and regulation can be implemented and enforced. The primary objection to the PWCs seems to be directed at the operators of these watercraft. Specific training and licensing may be another option to consider. There are certainly pros and cons to this very important issue and when providing your input, please keep them in mind. The lake is there for all to use and enjoy but it is important to insure safety to all those on the water and a degree of peace and quiet for those around the lake. With your help we will be able to formulate an acceptable plan for everyone.
Fisheries Report – Bruce Basset
The spring started with a heat wave that raised the lake’s water temp so rapidly that the rainbow fry in Jim Santora’s net pen were in danger and had to be released before there were any losses. The brook trout I was to receive did not happen so my pen lay dormant for the summer. The upside to all this was the fact that the 10,000 brooks I did release are doing well and today they average 12-13 inches in length. The game department stocked additional fish in the amount of 72,000 rainbow, 236,000 kokanee and 175 large brood stock. Add this to the 15,000 rainbow raised through the winter and released this spring gave us a total of over 330,000 fish stocked. Now, did you catch anything this summer? June night fishing was superb. I caught many 15-16 inch silvers. July was OK. August was poor for silvers but rainbows were good. Mack fishing was OK spring and summer but has been exceptional this fall. I have caught and released more than 30 fish since the last week of September.
Jim Santora and I received our next batch of fish in mid October. The brookies average 2-3 inches in size and the rainbow 1-2 inches. Enjoy the winter, see you next spring.
Road Committee Report – Teresa Waunch
Hi! My name is Teresa Waunch and you probably associate me with the Hwy 395 project. I am now also your roads contact person for activity, questions and action concerning county road work in and around Deer lake.
During the routine maintenance for North Deer Lake Rd last year, a sealcoat was applied from Hwy 395 to Gardners but due to wether and increased traffic, it didn’t hold up so Road Supervisor Dale Swift opted to pave that portion of the road with hot mix asphalt this past summer. That portion from Gardners to the end of N. Deer Lake Rd is scheduled for grinding, compaction and patching next summer. Wanakiwian entered into a partnership with Stevens County and shared the cost of road improvements and drainage on a 50-/50 basis. A drainage improvement project in Julius terrace is now completed and Grouse Creek Road had a gravel maintenance program completed which included widening, added drainage and regraveling.
Letter to the Editor – Frank Moulton
This is a letter from an old year-rounder with some comments and concerns about Deer Lake.
Sitting on th eback porch almost every evening, I’ve noticed how much the boat and jet ski traffic has increased in the past few years.
While most of the boaters observe the lake rules and play in the middle of the lake, there are some, mostly jet skiers that love to buzz the shoreline 40-50 feet from the docks. These people have a tendency to hang out in front and go around and around in circles for what seems to be hours. I am told that they are trying to make waves for themselves to jump. This brings up a point of safety. So often when a person is putting along in their boat, enjoying the sights, suddenly a jet ski appears to tail gate! This can’t be safe. What if you suddenly stop your boat and the jet ski keeps going? Needless to say a lot of jet ski activity is downright annoying and unsafe.
The watercraft buzzing the shoreline also cause damage to the docks and the boats moored there. Then there is the erosion of the shoreline. The waterfowl, particularly the nesting grebes don’t seem to benefit either.
What happened to the no-wake law after sundown? Or the counter clockwise law? The 100 foot law?
I have observed jet skiers, sometimes three or four people on them, racing around right up until dark. They have no regard for anyone, especially the fisherman in the 12-14' aluminum boat.
Enough is enough. I s there any way to control these renegade jet skiers so that the other 7/8 of the people on the lake can enjoy the other things that this lake has to offer? I know that the lake is here for all of us, but a small minority seems to be ruining it for the rest of us. I don‘t think that I should have to feel like the lake is only a nice place to live from Mid September through mid May every year.
I’d like to see jet skis banned totally, but Monday through Friday would be a start. Let the weekenders have the lake on the weekends and the fisherman during the week. Deer Lake is not large enough for fishermen and jet skiers seven days a week. This used to be such a nice quiet place to live, but now a person can wake up to the monotonous while of the jet ski and go to sleep to it too (if they can sleep though it).
Ever wondered what happened to our fishing?
Ever wonder what happened to our fishermen?
I would like to encourage DLPOA to poll its members on this issue and publish the results in their newsletter. Maybe even forward this letter as well as the other members opinions to Stevens county. I have read in the newspaper of communities in Western Washington being successful with an outright ban of jet skis. Maybe DLPOA could advise its members of the necessary steps to accomplish this. I know I speak for a number of my neighbors with what I have written to you.
Water Safety Report – Doyle Knight
This summer started out with minimal traffic on the lake due to the weather. However, this did not last long. The traffic soon picked up when the weather warmed up. The two regular Marine Deputies for Deer Lake put in 83 hours each on patrol. We did not have the use of the Jet Skies this year due to department budget cuts and other factors. There was one injury accident involving two Jet Skies in which one was totaled.
When referring to Jet Skies in this report we are including the Wave Runners. Jet Skies were by far our biggest problem on the lake. It would appear that resort owners, private jet ski owners, and dealers do not seem to put importance on seeing that all operators are aware of the rules and regulations of operating jet skies. There are no stop signs, cross walks, stop lights and intersections out on the water. The lack of these seem to give people a sense of freedom to do as they please, with no regard for regulations or the safety of others. This makes them a serious hazard.
PUD #1
As you know, the PUD#1 of Stevens County installed the sewer system at Deer lake in 1991/921. On all lots where sewer facilities were installed, an easement was signed by the property owner in order to allow the PUD access to the property to install, operate, and maintain the sewer facilities. We would like to remind you that the easement states that no permanent structure can be built withing 5 feet of the sewer pipes, septic tanks and all other sewer facilities. It has come to our attentions that two different concrete foundations have been built adjacent to the existing tanks and they may have to be removed. Please remember to take this 5 foot easement into account when locating permanent structures on your property. During your planning process, just call our office and we will locate the sewer facilities for you.
Lake Beautification – Shawn King
HELP !!
Could it be that Deer lake and the surrounding areas are just too nice? Too Beautiful? Too well kept? DLPOA and other property owners have had a great deal of success making positive changes to the quality of Deer Lake and its surroundings. We will continue promoting and encouraging these activities but we need input from you, the property owners. Do you have a specific area that you would like to see made a part of Lake Beautification? We need to know. Input and support from property owners is what makes things happen.
Friends, Neighbors, Deer lake Property Owners – Jerry Brinkman
WHEW!! That sure sounded a whole lot better than Friends, Romans, and Countrymen. What I need from all of you is a lot of help to identify your new neighbors and then turn them in so they can receive a newsletter. Lucky people who have a neighbor like you who cares enough to give them an opportunity to join the Deer Lake Property Owners Accosiation.
There has been a lot of property changing hands this past year, and try ing to keep up is really tough without your help. Take a look around an see if you still have the some neighbors, of if you have someone brand new to meet and greet. Introduce yourself – get a name, address and phone number, then call me at 276-9856 with the information. You could even give my phone number to the new people. Your new acquaintances will thank you for introducing yourself, and I will thank you for all your assistance.