Memo from the President -- by Bruce Bassett
This was a good winter as far as winters go, but I still can't help waiting for spring. I'm not a winter person. I like warm spring days and love the fall and our Indian summers. But we made it!!! How are we doing?
Pretty darn good compared to some of our neighbors. Our priority this year is for all of us to keep a personal vigil for the ver expanding Milfoil weed that has raised its ugly head in our neighbor's lake and is threatening the very continued existence of other lakes. If you fish in neighboring lakes it is your duty to check your boat, motor, trailer and your vehicle for any minute particles of Milfoil before putting your boat in our lake. You do not want to be the one who spreads it to our waters since once established it is here forever and can totally destroy our lake. The DOE surveyed Deer Lake last fall and found it free of Eurasian Milfoil and we MUST keep it this way. Loon Lake is fighting a seri9ous battle at great financial and physical expense to just try and control Milfoil and it is a very tenacious weed once it gets a chance to start.
We had a good year last year on our lake and things look to be better this year. Doyle Knight is off to the police academy for training to be a reserve officer on our lake which will make our boat patrol even more effective and provide greater safety.
Woodcutting
We are working with Boise Cascade in an attempt to make it easier for our members to get in to cut wood during the 1998 season. You can, as a member of DLPOA, cut firewood on Boise Cascade land for only $2.00 per cord in designated areas.
Fishing by Bruce Bassett
The mild winter and above average temperatures helped make this first venture into raising Brook Trout a success. I lost 300 fingerlings right after receiving then because the water temperature was too high and they developed a fungus that took its toll. When the water temperature dropped the fungus died and I have only lost one fish since then. The Brookies are bout 7 inches and doing very will. They should grow another 1 to 2 inches by April and provide some great fishing for the dock fisherpeople. I will be releasing approximately 10,000 as the fishing season begins. Jim Santora's fish pen is, as always, doing very well and he will be releasing 15,000 Rainbows in the Spring. We will then both receive a new batch of fry (baby fish) to raise for the Fall plant.
We are in the planning stages of adding a third net pen to raise Silvers to help supplement our dwindling schools of these fish. The problem we are facing is Mother Nature's timing. It seems Silver fry mature so slowly that by the time the game department can release the fingerlings into our nets the lake temperature is too warm for them to survive and they shock from being transplanted out of 52 degree water into 76 degree water. The game department does not have the facilities to hold them unti8l Fall when it would be safe to drop them in Deer Lake. We are trying to work out a solution to this problem.
By the time you read this, fishing season will be getting ready to open. The game department has mentioned that we seem to have a large population of Mackinaws and it would not hurt to balance out the lake's overall fish populations by keeping more of the Macks that your catch. They don't do well when released and are great table fare when prepared correctly. Wishing you good fishing lunk and enjoy.
Milfoil Alert
Just because you don't have it now you cannot rest. Eurasian Watermilfoil is a cancer upon our waters. It spreads very rapidly to new areas and chokes out native plants. In the fall of 1994 there was no Milfoil found on Loon Lake in a weed survey done for the Stevens county Weed board by a professional survey team. Just two years later it has gotten a good hold in several areas of our lake. In the summer of 1997 a Dept. of Ecology grant of $50,000 was spent trying to stop the spread of Eurasian Milfiol. Over 38,000 square feet of bottom barrier was laid on the bottom of the lake, a canal area was treated with the chemical Sonnorant, numerous hours were spent by divers hand pulling Milfoil Byt the end of July, 1997, we had an explosion of Milfoil . It was showing up all over the lake. One diver stated that when he pulled a plant and went back to the same spot a week later, 50 plants had taken its place. In late October of 1997 Kathy Hammel of the Dept. of Ecology wrote to the Stevens County Weed Board that she was very concerned that the Milfoil infestation had progressed beyond the point of bottom screening and hand pulling. She went on to say that, at this stage of infestation, the tools for control/eradication options are limited.
Deer Lake has been lucky so far but you must keep watchful eye out for Eurasian Milfoil. You spread the word, not Milfoil. Pick off every fragment you find on your boat, motor or trailer (put them in a garbage can) before launching at Deer Lake. Be sure to check friends boat and trailer or personal watercraft when they come to visit. Post Milfoil signs at all boat launches and learn how to identify Milfoil. Those who have worked on the Loon Lake Milfoil project will be more than happy to help your officers of DLPOA identify any questionable plants. Remember, the best way to control Eurasian Milfoil Is not to le5 it get started!!!
I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Jim Richardsoin from LLPOA for taking the time out of his busy schedule to write this article for our newsletter. We wish you and LLPOA success in your efforts to control Milfoil.
Emergency Services by Gerry Block
Last week a meeting was held at the Loon Lake School by your Stevens County Fire District #1 and the topic was preparing our community for a disaster. The lecture given by Don Perry, chief, was excellent! I have always considered the topic of weather conditions as something that was not on my list of interests. Let me tell you, I now listen to the weather forecasts with greater concern. 'El Nino' is not the only concern for disasters. Since attendance at the meeting was sparse, perhaps DLPOA readers may benefit from reading this article.
We have a life stile that we take for granted: electricity, clean drinking water, gas for our vehicles, refrigeration, etc. Following Don's lecture, I thought of all the "little things" we assume will be available on a daily need. We all know neighbors that rely on medications for survival. Do we have a supply that would last for an extended period? No. Do we have jugs of water stored away for "just in case"? No. do we have a plan prepared for evacuation? No. I am not suggesting we start digging our bomb shelters, but rather we think of the things we would need to survive.
Don mentioned that several communities have already set up disaster teams. The members are trained to respond to pre-assigned areas, assess a situation for emergency needs and with the use of a portable radio, get a response ASAP. I know several neighbors that have been trained through programs from employment, military service, volunteer programs, etc. We live in a community that is knowledgeable and concerned about each others welfare. If the disaster team idea becomes established, I know our community will respond.
You may be seeing or have already heard that the membership of our Deer lake Volunteer Fire Department (SCFPD #1, Station #5) is increasing. We have welcomed them with open arms. Many thanks.
Stevens County Fire District No 1
The fire district has finalized its first strategic plan and will go to the voters on April 28, 1998 wioth a proposed bond measure to replace aged facilities and equipment.
The strategic plan will provide the framework for the district's operations over the next five to seven years. A key component of this plan was an evaluation of facilities and equipment. Currently the fire stations in Springdale, Clayton, and Tum Tum will not pass a state safety audit. Additionally, the station at Suncrest needs to be relocated and expanded. The remaining stations in Loon Lake, Deer Lake, Ford, and Williams Valley need remodeling. The proposed 1998 fire protection bond will address the needs mentioned above.
Five of the nine front line fire engines are over 20 years old and need to be replaced. The priorities for engine replacement are Clayton, Ford, Suncrest, Springdale, and Williams Valley.
The district is presently scheduling disaster preparedness training courses for the public. These "hands on" free classes cover how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic first aid, and how to use an purchase a fire extinguisher for your home. It also covers how to prepare your family for a disaster. We would lover to provide this two hour presentation to Deer Lake residents.
Deer Lake Annual Cleanup and Awesome Chili-Feed -- by Shawn King
As we begin to shake the last of winter, I am sure we are looking forward to "spring cleaning" our homes, lots and lake property. It is a "rite of Spring" which signifies winter is gone.
The DLPOA Spring Cleanup will take place on Saturday morning, April 25th from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Sign up sheets will be available at the Deer Lake Resort and the Deer Lake fire Station prior to the 25th or just meet at one of those two places on Saturday the 25th and bring gloves. The beauty of the cleanup is that you only need to devote a cou0ple of hours to have a positive impact on the lake. Garbage bags wuill be provided and we need volunteers not only to picku0 trash but to haul to the dump.
After policing the areas for trash, come join your friends and neighbors at the Deer lake Fire Station from 11:00 AM till Noon or until all the chili is gone, whichever comes first. It is a fun ending to a worthwhile morning. DLPOA predicts blue skies and sunshine for the event. Please try to plan for the morning of April 25th to promote the beauty of Deer Lake.
Road Committee Report by Jack Low
Rather than addressing specific problems in Eastern Washington, the Transportation Forum held in Moses Lake turned out to be more of a Taxes 101 course. However, it did lay the foundation for the next forum which will address specific problems.
It was generally recognized that a gas tax is not going to solve our transportation problems over the long term. In the past 25 years, vehicle miles traveled on our roads have increased at a tremendous reate, while fuel tax revenues have remained relatively constant. This is because the gas tx is a flat tax and does not keep up with inflation.
Governor Locke is proposing an increase in the gas tax in his 1998 budget, however it would not generate enough tax revenue to repair our roads adequately and it would be strictly a short term solution. The Republicans are offering a plan of their own with no increase in the gas tax, but since this is an election year, it is probable that neither plan will receive enough support to be adopted. Meanwhile, our roads continue to deteriorate and our county road funds get less and less, mainly because of the decrease in federal and state monies that are made available to us. This year Stevens County road revenues are down nearly $1.5 million from last year. What we need is some effective leadership in our state legislature so that our problems will be address. Maybe after the next election??
At the last Stevens County Road and Bridge Advisory Board meeting, there was much discussion about the approach to clearing the roads of snow. The quality of work was very inconsistent from area to area this past winter. If your road was not adequately plowed and maintained, contact the Department of Public Works in Colville and express your concerns. They are planning a training session for operators of snow removal equipment next fall.
DLPOA Annual Membership Drive has Begun
We are launching our annual membership drive and need your help,. When you become a new member or renew your membership, you are making a contribution toward improved safety on and around the lake, safer and better roads, improved water quality and ongoing testing, better fishing, plus you get to read this newsletter to name just some of the goals and objectives that will insure an ongoing improvement of Deer Lake. Enclosed you will find an invoice, self addressed envelope and member card. Please return the yellow portion along with your dues. Thank you for your continuing support.!
Here is an exciting announcement. We are planning the first ever combined DLPOA Annual Meeting and Old Fashioned Family Picnic and Potluck (phew). DLPOA will provide soft drinks, ice cold lemonade, hot coffee, hot dogs, and hamburgers, ice cream, along with prizes and surprises. The annual meeting will be short and the Picnic/Potluck will be long. You and your family simply need to show up and bring a potluck dish if you are so inclined. Guests are also welcome.
The event will be held at the Gifford Pavilion on North Deer Lake Road. Saturday June 20th will be the day to mark on your calendar and the time is from 12:00 till approximately 4:00 PM. Please provide DLPOA with the number of people planning to attend.