Lake Life - April

Presorted Standard | US Postage Paid Newport, WA | Permit No. 18 | ECRWWS

Celebrating Life at Diamond Lake and Sacheen Lake Volume 1, Issue 1

Produced by The Miner Newspapers

April 2012

Summer starts on the water

Fishing opens on lowland lakes

Help combat aquatic weeds

New construction at historical sight

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Welcome to Lake Life Of the many unique experiences a person has in this region, some of the best originate on our beautiful lakes. So many memories are started, shaped and permanently planted for a lifetime from a moment during the summer on a lake. Whether the person owns property, rents, visits or just launches a boat for a day of fishing on these lakes they share this love.

Lake Life is about this experience and for those who want to know more about what is happening on their lakes.

Our focus is on Diamond Lake and Sacheen Lake for this free publication that will be produced by The Miner Staff April, May, June, July and August. It is mailed to every mailbox in the Diamond and Sacheen areas, and placed at some businesses in Newport, Diamond and Sacheen Lake. E-editions are available on The Miner’s website for free download or reading.

We are overwhelmed by the outstanding advertising support for this issue. These businesses want to serve those enjoying Lake Life.

Our news staff will be following the stories that impact Lake Life. They will also take a look at people, history and just plain ol’ fun experiences during the summer. The full color publication should make the top of everyone’s summer reading list whether you get to the lake each day or just want to dream about it. Let us know what you think and please give us story ideas. Don’t miss out on the photo contest explained in this issue. Let the summer fun begin!

Fred J. Willenbrock Publisher Published: April 2012 Publisher: Fred Willenbrock Writers & editors: Michelle Nedved, Janelle Atyeo and Don Gronning Design: Greg Smith and Michelle Nedved Advertising: Susan Willenbrock, Lindsay Guscott, Cindy Boober and Amy Robinson LAKE LIFE is published monthly in April, May, June, July and August as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, P.O. Box 349, Newport, WA 99156.

Editorial and advertising offices are located at 421 S. Spokane, Newport.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 E-MAIL: minernews@povn.com, mineradvertising@povn.com FAX: 509-447-9222 Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission of the publisher.

See all issues at The Miner Online: www.pendoreillerivervalley.com.

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Lake areas inspected by assessor this summer NEWPORT – The county assessor’s office will be visiting the southern portion of Pend Oreille County, including Diamond and Sacheen lakes, this summer. While every property in the county gets a statistical analysis every year to determine assessment values, a quarter of the county gets an actual physical inspection.

Residents can appeal to the board of equalization if they believe the assessor’s office made a mistake on the new assessment, assessor Jim McCroskey said.

The board of equalization is appointed by the county commissioners. A property owner must have proof that the assessor’s office made a mistake in the property’s valuation.

WAT E R L E V E L

Diamond Lake residents discuss high water

Group may deal with beaver dams before taking on expensive dredging operation

BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER

Diamond Lake fire station and at the Sacheen Lake station at 6131 Highway 211.

Mobilizing dredge is highest cost

Residents at DLIA’s April meeting asked what DIAMOND LAKE – Diamond Lake residents would be done to mitigate downstream impacts. have been exploring ways to relieve flooding Sewell engineer Eric Eldenburg explained that this spring. While dredging the lake’s outlet any dredging work would take place in the late looks to be an expensive undertaking, putting summer or fall when the water level is down in drainage tubes through beaver dams or reorder to keep from sending a rush of water down moving weeds in the lake’s outlet may provide to Sacheen. Using a suction dredge to collect the some relief in the meantime. silt will minimize the amount of sediment that gets “It looks like vegetation grown downstream washed downstream. of North Shore Road will present a problem Sewell engineers checked into the particulars for summer,” said engineer Eric Eldenburg of of dredging a 300-foot section of the lake’s outlet Sewell and Associates. He said they are lookknown as Moon Creek. A floating suction dredge ing at means to eradicate those weeds, includ- on a 20-foot paddleboat would cut weeds and suck ing canary grass, using environmentally safe up the material down to the silt. That would be herbicides. transported to a site for de-watering. The material Sewell has been hired by the Diamond Lake would be high in nutrients and could be used for Improvement Association to come up with op- compost. Work would take only about a day to a tions for addressing the flooding, mapping the day and a half. The most expensive part would be channel and studying the lake level to get an mobilizing the equipment, an expense of about accurate measurement. $20,000 to $26,000.

Engineers from Sewell and Associates gave Residents asked about buying their own equipa report at DLIA’s monthly meeting April 4, ment or installing it on the association’s milfoil explaining the options for getting water flowbarge. VandeVanter said it wouldn’t work and the ing through the outlet channel and the costs dredging would require heavier equipment than involved. Nearly 50 people attended the meetthey use for milfoil. ing at the Diamond Lake Fire Hall where there Resident Joe Cagianut urged the board to take its was standing room only.

Resident Tom VandeVanter said people need Continued on page 15 a way to protect their shorelines. He thinks there are some large cottonwood trees that are in danger of falling in the water if erosion continues.

“People need to be able to TM protect their stuff. They’re losing things. They’re losing ground,” he said.

Hearing that dredging the outlet could cost upwards of $25,000, the DLIA board made no decisions on how to proceed.

DLIA president Geri Guinn said it looks like they will be addressing the beaver dam issue before doing any dredging.

They have discussed installing beaver tubes like those used at Sacheen Lake.

“But we have to be very careful because we don’t want 00 to flood Sacheen,” Guinn said.

In the meantime, residents 00 continue sandbagging.

“That’s all we can do,” Guinn said.

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R E A L E S TAT E

Agent, lake resident says good time to buy

It is a buyer’s market with many properties on lakes discounted from prices commanded just three years It’s been a tough three years for real ago. Bockemuehl said he started to see estate sales around the country but the recovery on the lake property sales especially hard hit by the recession was begin late last year, but mostly for modlake home sales. But things might just estly priced properties and only a few be starting to get better, according to Bockemuehl high end ones.

The economy is still making buyers cautious especially if they are secondary homes and they will have to use high priced gas to get there.

Bockemuehl said there are 14 properties for sale on Diamond Lake and two on Sacheen Lake.

But he noted that this is just the beginning of the sale season. He This great little cabin is on secNEW HOME! 3 bedrooms, 2 full 40 Acre Beautiful Horse Ranch! said typically about half will sell. ondary lot with views of fanbaths, Office, Lg mud room, 2 Wonderful 2 story farm house More are now on the market in tastic Diamond Lake. Just a car garage. Open floor plan. in excellent condition. 4 bedthe $600,000 plus range. The short distance to your private Front & back covered porches. rooms, 2.5 baths, formal dining. highest priced is the island and beach. Home in excellent 2 walk-in closet. 5 nicely treed Dream horse barn is 36’ x 60’ house on Diamond Lake at $1.8 condition with wrap around acres. Paved county road. Quiet with six 12 x 12 matted stalls, insumillion. porch. 24 x 24 garage/shop. cul-de-sac. Minutes from beaulated tack room with hot water.

Right now how quickly they double lot. Sprinkle systiful Diamond Lake. $239,900.

110 x 220 riding arena. 60’ round sell depends on how they are tem. Nicely treed. culdasac Tour at www.johnlscott. pen. Secondary loafing shed. priced. with nice community park. com/87222 Call Mary Ann Large shop w/office. Property He predicts that Sacheen Lake $199,900 Tour www.johnlscott. is fenced & cross fenced with property will sell better with com/13888 Call Mary Ann access to thousands of acres of prices rising in the coming years riding trails from property. 8 x 8’ as the sewer system is installed. observatory with rollback roof That’s what happened at Dia& telescope pier for star gazmond Lake, he said. ing. Also features separate 1 Bockemuehl talked about how bedroom guest house. $599,000 market values are set on waTour www.johnlscott.com/13517 terfront property. There aren’t Call Mary Ann many similar properties that sell to set market prices from.

He said they can’t set one front footage price for all lake property, like people think.

FINALLY! Affordable WATERFRONT PRICED RIGHT! Front footage is the length of lake property! 2bd, 1ba Modest cabin with 50’ of frontmanufactured home secondary the shoreline for a lot. So if a age on Diamond Lake, dock, to Diamond Lake. Immaculate lot has 100 feet on the water timbered lot. High bank for aweinterior, covered deck, fenced and the front footage price was some lake & sunset views, warm ONE OF A KIND Income property lawn, off-street parking. Steps $5,000 the lot would be worth afternoon sun. Ample off street on Diamond Lake. Total of 7 away from quiet community $500,000 without the buildings parking, storage sheds, cabin Units, very low vacancy rate, beach w/ dock & gazebo, easy or improvements. can be sold furnished. Great opmany improvements already commute to town. $104,900.

He said the front foot price portunity to be on the lake now. done. 4bd, 1ba house PLUS ww.johnlscott.com/88168 for Diamond Lake land actu$219,950.

6 apartments, 65’ of low bank Call Dorothy ally varies a lot from $2,000 ww.johnlscott.com/64751 frontage w/ dock. $549,000.

Call Dorothy to $5,000; it depends on many www.johnlscott.com/39861 other factors such as quality of Call Dorothy beach, lot size and view.

“Appraisers try to get you in a trap with set front footage prices,” he said.

Fiber optic capabilities will be a great sales incentive when completed he said. People can www.JohnLScott.com live on a lake and work from home. He has had contact with Dorothy Yeaw, Mary Ann Jones, potential buyers with that in Broker, ABR GRI SRES Des. Broker, ABR GRI SRES 301 N. Union Ave • Newport, WA mind. dorothyyeaw@johnlscott.com maryannjo@johnlscott.com Office 509-447-3144 His advice: “Buy when everywww.johnlscott.com/dorothyyeaw www.johnlscott.com/maryannjo Toll FREE 888-234-7355 one sells and sell when everyone 509-671-0458 509-671-0193 buys.”

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4 Lake Life | April 2012

a veteran waterfront real estate agent and 28-year resident of Diamond Lake.

Dick Bockemuehl said this week that one reason for his optimism is that there are now some of the lowest interest rates in re-

cent history and some property owners have drastically reduced prices.

He recently got a quote for a 15 year fixed rate mortgage with only 3 percent interest from a local bank.

“Mid to late last year we saw some recovery,” Bockemuehl said. “But it has been slow.”

FI S H I N G

USK GRILL

Lakes stocked for fishing season opener SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks both Diamond and Sacheen lakes with fish throughout the year.

Diamond Lake received 12,000 triploid rainbow trout and 2,500 brown trout this spring and received 15,100 rainbow fry last May. Sacheen Lake received 300 jump brown trout in October 2011, and 20,000 rainbow fry, 13,900 brown fry and 5,000 tiger trout fry in 2011.

Anglers preparing for opening day of the 2012 lowland lakes season on April 28 can expect to reel in trout that are one-third bigger this year.

WDFW is releasing 3 million hatchery-reared trout statewide, averaging 11-13 inches – two to three inches longer than last year.

To fish, anglers must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2013. Licenses can be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; by telephone at 1-866- 246-9453; or at hundreds of license dealers across the state. For details on license vendor locations, visit the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors/.

Freshwater fishing licenses cost $27.50 for resident adults 16 to 69 years old. Fifteen-yearolds can buy a license for $8.25, and seniors 70 and older can buy an annual fishing license for

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Anglers parking at WDFW water-access sites are required to display on their vehicle the Continued on page 15

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Violating those rules is classified as a civil infraction. When an owner fails to respond to a notice of infraction or violates the law four or more times within a year, penalties are applied and the owner is subject to criminal charges. Fines start at $50 for the first instance, going up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.

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BY SHARON SORBY PEND OREILLE COUNTY WEED DEPARTMENT

Pend Oreille County is embarking on the adventure of setting up an Aquatic Invasive Species Cooperative Management Area. Cooperators include most State and Federal agencies, one municipality, the Kalispel Tribe and COURTESY PHOTO|SHARON SORBY most importantly, Here is a photo of Butomus interested private Umbellata, or flowering rush. stakeholders.

If you’re interested in participating, please contact the Weed Board.

As a first joint effort, cooperators from Idaho’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program, the Department of Ecology and the Pend Oreille County Weed Board are organizing a family fun trip for the last weekend in July. The purpose of this trip is to perform a survey for flowering rush, an aquatic weed that can cause harm to the environment, along the full length of the Pend Oreille basin including Diamond and Sacheen lakes. We need a large volunteer base to make this ambitious endeavor possible.

Plans include all volunteers meeting at a central location to see what flowering rush looks like growing in and under the water as pictures cannot give an adequate feeling for what it looks like.

PROTECT YOUR HOME

Instructions will be given for manual removal for those volunteers willing to get wet. Proper removal technique is critical as improper removal can lead to spread.

Sites found will be documented with a GPS if available or a point on a provided paper map; and, removal implementation, or not, will be noted.

Willing volunteers will be provided with plastic garbage bags that will be left on shore for future pick-up.

This project is designed to be fun and family oriented. We look forward to anyone joining us who would like to participate in this adventure.

Editor’s Note: Flowering rush is an exotic plant that has been introduced into several areas of the country. It is an aquatic plant that can grow as an emergent plant along shorelines and as a submersed plant in lakes and rivers.

This exotic was likely brought to North America from Europe as a garden plant. Unfortunately, it also grows well in wet places. While single flowering rush plants are not a “problem,” this exotic can form dense stands which may interfere with recreational lake use. Flowering rush may also crowd out native plants and in turn harm fish and wildlife.

COURTESY PHOTO|SHARON SORBY

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Sacheen Ladies of the Lake gives donations SACHEEN LAKE – The Sacheen Ladies of the Lake remain active as a philanthropic and social group. Last year, they were able to raise enough funds through craft sales and other projects to give donations of about $300 to three separate charities, including the Sharing Tree at Christmastime.

A core group of about 15 women meet monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month except for November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. New members are invited to attend.

Meetings start at noon, held at various locations. For information, contact president Maria Bullock at 509-998-4221.

No wake zone in place at Diamond, Sacheen Only county commissioners can say when it’s coming off

BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER

DIAMOND LAKE – Early in the spring melt, no wake restrictions were put on Diamond and Sacheen lakes to protect shorelines.

Pend Oreille County commissioners declared an emergency March 27, and issued the no wake order. Sacheen Lake was still frozen at the time, but lake residents had requested the precautionary measure ahead of boating season.

Any power boaters must operate at 5 mph – a speed slow enough to prevent creating a wake.

Violators of the no wake speed limit are subject to an infraction with a fine of $66.

Several people around Diamond Lake have flooded basements and boat houses.

Last year brought flooding throughout the Pend Oreille River Valley and prompted Pend Oreille County commissioners to institute the first ever no wake zone on some area lakes – Diamond, Sacheen and Bead lakes.

Currently, the county doesn’t have a policy for implementing no wake zones or taking them off on

lakes; it is done at the commissioners’ discretion.

They had discussed last year reviewing the policy during the winter before the lakes thawed possibly setting levels to take action but haven’t done so yet.

Last year many people were upset when the no wake zone was not lifted during the first month of summer and the busy Fourth of July weekend. It is unclear when or if the restrictions will come off only the commissioners can tell people.

Wake restrictions on Diamond and Sacheen lakes lasted until early July 2011, and Bead Lake restrictions were kept on longer. Bead Lake was not included in this first county order.

The levels at Diamond peaked at about 2,345.64 feet in late May 2011.

On the Pend Oreille River though, county ordinance sets a level of 2,041 feet above sea level at the Cusick gauge as the trigger for the no wake zone.

That level was established by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the point when minor flooding starts.

Last year, no wake restrictions went into effect on the river May 9 and weren’t lifted until the river dropped four feet in one weekend in mid-July. It was the first time wake restrictions were placed on the river since 2006.

Sacheen Lake Association plans summer events SACHEEN LAKE – Summer calendars fill up quickly, so mark the dates of the clean-up events, the annual meeting and summer picnic planned by the Sacheen Lake Association.

The SLA is organizing two dates for the Adopt a Highway program where members clean up a three-mile stretch of Highway 211 east of the lake.

Clean-up days are planned for June 9 and Aug. 25. The group will meet at 8 a.m. at MyersHarter Sanctuary, located on near the corner of Highway 211 and Fertile Valley Road on the northeast tip of the lake.

Members will weed and trim at Myers-Harter Sanctuary June 30. The time has yet to be set.

A boating safety class is tentatively scheduled for June 23, depending on enough people signing up. The class would be at 10 a.m. at the Sacheen Lake Fire Station, 6131 Highway 211.

A clean-up on Fertile Valley Road is planned for June 23.

Meet at the park at 9 a.m.

The general annual meeting is planned for June 16 at the Sacheen Lake Fire Station, starting at 10 a.m. The annual picnic is set for Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. at the park.

The Sacheen Lake Association has about 120 paid members.

Don Hill is present of the board, Brian Hood vice chairman, Beryl Pielli secretary, Jerry Johnsen treasure, and board mem-

bers are Lance Barklen, Mary Maxfield, Karen White, Linda Walters, Luke Short and Al Pool.

The board has monthly executive meetings. For information, visit www.sacheenlake.com.

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April 2012 | Lake Life 7

INFR ASTRUC TURE

Engineering work on Sacheen Lake sewer system begins

No assessments until cost known, probably by 2014

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

Engineering work on building a sewer system for Sacheen Lake will get underway within a week or so, sewer and water commissioner Perry

8 Lake Life | April 2012

Pearman said in mid-April.

“We’re in the design phase,” Pearman said. The district secured a $7.5 million loan from the Public Works Trust Fund. The district will pay 2 percent interest on the money and has borrowed it for a 20-year period.

An aerial topographical survey of the lake will be taken soon, maybe

next week, Pearman said. They will use lidar technology mounted on a helicopter.

With lidar, laser pulses yield direct, 3-D measurements of the ground surface, vegetation, roads and buildings.

Final results are typically produced in weeks, whereas traditional groundbased mapping methods took months

or years.

There will also be an archeological survey conducted in the Rocky Gorge area to ensure that there are no Native American artifacts in the area.

This summer there will be a wetlands survey conducted.

Pearman said that commissioners were pleasantly surprised to find that the pumps they had planned to buy will be about half the price they thought they would be. That means that each home will get their own pump, as opposed to sharing a pump, as was originally planned.

Pearman said that every resident will be contacted this summer.

“We’ll be going to each home to find out exactly where they want the grinder box placed,” he said, referring to a pump that utilizes grinder blades fitted on a submersible pump to turn waste to a slurry, which can be pumped through a small diameter pipe.

Pearman said that the exact amount property owners will be assessed won’t be known until late 2013 or early 2014.

Either way, “Nobody will pay people a dime until the won’t toilets flush.” have to pay PERRY PEARMAN before District Commissioner the system is installed.

“Nobody will pay a dime until the toilets flush,” Pearman said.

When commissioners formed the Local Improvement District to fund the sewer system, they told people they anticipated assessments of about $16,970 per lot, which could be paid at once or over 20 years.

The $16,970 figure is less than an earlier LID, which called for a $21,580 assessment for a developed lot and a $14,000 assessment for an undeveloped lot.

Some property owners successfully challenged that assessment in court and the district formed another LID. Pearman anticipates that the system will be in place by the end of 2014. He said he has been hearing construction costs – particularly in the west – have been coming in lower than estimates.

W E AT H E R B A B B L E

C M S

Unusual winter gives way to wet spring

BY BOB LUTZ

The weather guy

CLIMATOLOGIST

SACHEEN LAKE – Now that spring is upon us, I thought I would reflect on a winter that was rather unusual for the snow-belt regions of south Pend Oreille County.

Yes, it snowed, but the patterns were weird to say the least! In my annual Winter Outlook issued in early September, I was literally “banking” (as I have a small snow plowing business) on at least 144 inches in the belt region south of Davis Lake thru Sacheen to Diamond.

In early November, it appeared as though it was game-on! Tired of fighting all those darn bugs dive-bombing into my eyes, mouth and ears, I for one was extremely happy to see the snow, and snow it did! On Nov. 11, the snow showers began, and did not quit until the 24th. On the 17th and 18th a record 19.3 inches fell in just 30 hours.

Over the 14-day period, a whopping 29.7 inches fell in extreme south Pend Oreille County. By this time, many weary Pend Oreille residents were bracing for what we all thought was going to be a very snowy winter. But, by late in the month, I noticed some strange things happening. It seemed there was some sort of an uninvited phenomenon putting the squeeze on old man winter.

So, being more inquisitive than your average house cat, I set out to investigate via my worldly porthole, the Internet. It did not take me long to find the culprit. It seems Mother Nature threw an Arctic Oscillation (AO) at us with little warning.

So what is Arctic Oscillation? (I’m so glad you asked.) In short, it’s what controls the Arctic air masses over the northern hemisphere winter. There are many different variations of AO. Some that send copious amounts of Arctic air into the Northern U.S. and others that are rather stingy and close the freezer door tighter than a pike biting down on your finger!

This AO turned out to be the Scrooge of us, and gave a majority of the country a green Christmas and even negated the wet, cold patterns we typically see with La Niña. We here in Pend Oreille were amongst the very few in the country that had a little snow on the ground over the holidays.

While the hammer-heads over at Accuweather continued to stick to their guns saying that the severe winter weather was still on the way (and they probably still are) I finally gave in, and revised down my winter predictions just before Christmas. As it turns out, that was a good move, as AO continued for most of the winter

Sacheen-area resident Bob Lutz began his weather hobby at the age of 11 while growing up in southern New England in the 1970s. He was fascinated by weather and began to study weather and climate trends. In 1978 he left Connecticut for a career in the U.S. Air Force where he used that opportunity to travel and study weather and climate patterns in various locations throughout the United States and Europe.

Lutz For more than 17 years, Lutz provided broadcast weather services and traffic reports to NewsTalk 1510, KGA and News Radio 920 KXLY in Spokane. In 1992, he received a national award for Observer of the Year for his work on Fire Storm 1991. He also wrote numerous weather articles for the The Spokane Valley News, The Spokesman Review, the National Weather Service, and Nationally by The Association of American Weather Observers.

The highlight of his career, he says, was the development of a unique mobile weather van in 1997.

He toured elementary schools throughout eastern Washington and North Idaho, teaching kids the importance of storm safety. The program was the only one of its kind in the country at the time and won a national award from Chevron Corp in 2000.

Lutz semi-retired in 2010 and currently lives in south Pend Oreille County with his wife Debbie. He owns and operates an independent co-op weather station and provides daily observations to the Spokane National Weather Service. He will be a regular contributor to Lake Life.

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509-242-3137 COURTESY PHOTO|THOMAS FEA

New home on former lodge site A single-family home is being built on the former site of the Diamond Shores Lodge, along the south shore of Diamond Lake. The county received a building permit for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home, applied for by property owner Jody Neumann. The foundation was going in recently. The lodge was sold in 2007 and torn down. It is pictured here in this early photograph with Percy and Margie Nelson, left and center, and Leola Turnbull outside.

If you have more information about this photograph or the history of the lodge let the Lake Life staff know.

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The build out of the PUD’s broadband fiber optic network is moving ahead but officials aren’t able to put a date on when service will be available, according to Joe Onley, director of the Community Network System, which handles the PUD’s fiber optic broadband product.

“It has to be built by April 1, 2013,” Onley said. He said that much of the overhead lines that make up the backbone have already been

installed. Onley said that no preference will be shown to any specific part of the county when it comes time to hook up.

In fact, the PUD won’t sell retail connections.

They will sell broadband service to retail service providers, who will sell the retail connection.

The PUD is in the process of acquiring consent forms from property owners so that fiber optic cable can be brought to the home. There have been two sign up nights for people to give permission – without obligation to purchase the service – for the PUD to run fiber to the house.

There will be two more sign up nights – Tuesday, April 24, from 4-7 p.m. and May 8 and iPads will be given away on both days. The May 8 session will have both a morning and afternoon session.

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Diamond Lake boat launch work to begin late summer OLYMPIA – The Diamond Lake boat launch will get its facelift late this summer.

Brian Trickel of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said the work will begin in August or September, once the water level drops to its lowest.

The project will include a new double concrete boat launch, a loading dock type structure, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements for parking and access to the concrete toilet.

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Diamond Lake Water and Sewer system in good shape

BY FRED WILLENBROCK OF THE MINER

DIAMOND LAKE – When a person talks sewage they have to go to the source – the source of the most knowledge that is: Ray King. The Diamond Lake Water and Sewer District has been fortunate to have the water and sewer expert, who is also the Newport City Administrator, on

History of the district

il

should not need one for a while.

They have built about $100,000 in reserves for future work on the water and sewer system. Their debt will be paid in 10 years but could be paid in five.

Some of the funds from the bonds have been put in a reserve for system improvements. The user fees cover the operation costs. New hook up fees go into the system reserve.

“The system’s in good financial shape,” King said. They have passed both financial and system audits by the state.

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In 1970, the property owners in the lake area voted to form the Diamond Lake Sewer District to deal with the growing problem of sewage disposal. In 1971, the property owners formed the Diamond Lake Water District and in 1973 the two districts merged to form the Diamond Lake Water and Sewer District.

Since creation of the district, it has grown by providing service to new subdivisions and areas located near its original boundaries. The district has obtained ownership of other water systems throughout the years such as Smith Estates in 1981 and Poirier’s Addition in 1984.

The sewer system was expanded in 1988 for these additional customers. Diamond Height and First Additions were added to the district’s water system in 1987 with South Shore Estates following soon after in 1988.

The population of the district is about 1,700, increasing to about 3,000 during the summer. It is managed by a three-member board, currently consisting of Bob Graham, Richard Swan and Ray King. There are two full time maintenance employees, a part time clerk and a part time system inspector.

their board.

As a long time district resident and the one who has served the most years on the board, he has insights into where the little district he takes pride in has been and might be heading. So we asked him to talk sewage and water with us as the summer season and heavy use begins again at King the lake.

The most important announcement is the district is in good shape, both financially and structurally. King said after a rate increase last year they

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DIAMOND LAKE – In time for the opening of fishing season April 28, volunteers will be manning the boat launch at Diamond Lake, checking vessels for invasive weeds like milfoil and invasive species like zebra mussels and quagga mussels.

The Diamond Lake Improvement Association will be running an inspection station at the state boat launch, asking boaters to undergo a voluntary inspection before they launch their boats.

“The whole purpose is education, No. 1,” DLIA president Geri Guinn said.

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Waters program will also have volunteers handing out pamphlets on invasive species.

Guinn said they’ll invite the boat owners to walk around the craft with the inspectors. If they happen to find weeds, the volunteers will have a pressure washer on hand to wash the boats.

“We’re not expecting to find mussels, but we will be looking,” Guinn said. “We do expect to see some weeds that need to be removed.”

The volunteer boat washers wouldn’t have authority to require boaters to stop for a wash or inspection, but since it is against state law to transport noxious weeds, they could call on the sheriff to respond. The Pend Oreille County sheriff has said he will work closely with DLIA’s program.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which operates the launch, has granted Clean Boats, Clean Waters temporary use of the upper parking lot on the highway.

Original plans were to install a warm water wash station and drainage there, but with the state’s plans to upgrade the launch this summer, state officials wanted to be sure there was plenty of parking available incase use of the launch increases.

County staff has been exploring options for placing the boat wash at another site. After a survey of county land, they determined a parcel near the south county transfer station and District 1 road shop might be suitable. The land is on the southwest corner of the intersection of Gray Road and Deer Valley Road. Highway traffic would have to be directed up Gray Road to the site.

The county made no commitments for the boat wash, but merely reported to the WDFW which suitable parcels they had in the area. WDFW will decide the next step.

With the temporary wash station, the volunteers will use a corner of the lot to store the pressure washer on a trailer.

Diamond Lake will also have a lake host – John Hernandez – living in an RV on site 24/7. On busy weekends, several volunteers will assist the lake host.

They’ll be easy to recognize in Clean Boats, Clean Waters shirts and hats.

Recreational fires permitted

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

Recreational fires will be allowed under the county’s burn ban ordinance, adopted by the Pend Oreille County commissioners last year.

The fire must be attended, be on improved land and be no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet and no taller than 2 feet. There must be a fire break or non combustible surface at least 3 feet around the fire There must either 5 gallons of water present or a charged hose, along with a shovel.

If the fire gets away, the property owner is responsible for fire suppression costs, under the county’s law.

According to South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Nokes, it really isn’t the recreational fires that are a problem.

“It’s the burn piles that get away,” he said.

Nokes said there are precautions that must be taken with recreational fires. In addition to making sure the recreational fire isn’t too big and the other requirements are met, people making a recreational fire should look up.

“Don’t start them under trees,” he said.

The county’s burn ordinance is tied to the state DNR policy. When the DNR imposes a burn ban on DNR lands within Pend Oreille County, the ban will also apply to county lands, with the exception provided for properly attended recreational fires.

When the DNR bans fires in their campgrounds, all recreational fires will also be prohibited.

The South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue does not write tickets when there is a violation, Nokes said.

“We’re not a ticketing authority,” Nokes said. If they find a recreational fire violation, they will refer the matter the Pend Oreille County Sheriff. Deputies can write a $125 ticket for the first offense in a calendar year, $250 for a second offense offence and $500 for violations after that. If it really isn’t a recreational fire and is more of a debris fire, the state Department of Natural Resources will be notified, Nokes said.

Boaters 40 years and younger need education card SPOKANE – Boaters 40 years of age and younger are required to obtain a Washington Boaters Education Card.

The age limit increases each year, starting with those who were 30 years old and younger in 2010. By 2015, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1955, will be required to have the card.

The boating safety course can be taken online for free. It includes more than 150 narrated and animated safe boating videos, 40 interactive boating safety exercises and practice quizzes. It covers everything that will be on the test.

The test can also be taken online. The cost is $29.95 paid once you pass. It consists of 75 multiple choice visual exam questions and an 80 percent (60 correct answers) is

required to pass. The test is graded immediately and you can review your wrong answers.

The test is also available in person in Spokane Valley, Saturday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at All Season’s Driving School, 11524 Sprague Ave. Contact Karyl Ernsdorff at 509-220-3559 or Karyl.ernsdorff@comcast.net.

Visit www.parks.wa.gov/boating for more information.

A class will also be given by Charlie Schaefer, Saturday, May 26, from 8:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. at the Diamond Lake Fire Station.

Arrive at between 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. to assure staying on schedule. Bring a sack lunch and $10 for the state required card. Call Kristi Bell at 509-447-4117.

April 2012 | Lake Life 13

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Sacheen Lake: A little introduction

BY SHEILA PEARMAN SACHEEN LAKE WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT

Sacheen Lake lies at the southwest corner of Pend Oreille County, nestled along Highway 211. The lake is fed by Moon, Cedar and No Name (Jungle) Creeks and covers 320 acres with its 6.3 miles of shoreline. It is the headwaters for the West Branch of the Little Spokane River.

Sacheen has a mean depth of 24 feet with the deepest part, about 70 feet, in the west end of the lake beyond the “narrows.”

Although this cannot be verified, the name Sacheen is popularly believed to be a Salish Indian word meaning “lake of the wind-falls.”

When homesteaders first arrived they found a lake where thousands of cedars and other trees had fallen into the water, covering the shores and shallows with the debris, causing the water

to be amber colored from the tannins.

Homesteading began in the Sacheen Lake area in the late 1800s. Homesteaders logged, built ranches, sawmills, and even “harvested” ice from the lake for use in the summer months.

Many descendents of these original families continue to live around the lake with names such as Krogh, Schaefers, Ostness, Finnila and Harter in evidence on road signs, subdivision maps, cabins and mailboxes.

By the mid-1950s, most areas of the lake were developed and/or subdivided.

In December of 1956 the property owners of Sacheen Lake met and formed the Sacheen Lake Betterment Association. That organization, now known as the Sacheen Lake Association still exists today continuing to support the stewardship of Sacheen Lake.

(Information included in this column was compiled

by Kathy Hutson and Maury Cain.)

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and the second for the week of Aug. 13. These dates might need to change due to high water levels, but at this point these are the target treatment times, said

Sheila Pearman, district secretary of the Sacheen Lake Sewer & Water District.

Sharon Sorby, Pend Oreille County Weed Department manager, said she does not believe Diamond Lake has scheduled any chemical treatment for milfoil yet. Volunteer SCUBA divers have divided the lake into areas and hand pull the milfoil when they find it. Several areas of Diamond Lake were chemically treated last summer.

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83

season. Even so, I still recorded over 101 inches of the white stuff here in the belt region. It just had a difficult time accumulating due to all the warm weather and rain that fell in between the snow events.

As for what lies ahead, I suspect we’ll see more surprises throughout the rest of spring. We are finally drying out a bit from that record 9.28 inches of precipitation we saw in March, and as such, I think it is now safe to shut down the construction on that new ark. Even so, I expect that rainfall will remain heavier than normal while temperatures stay on the cooler side of average thanks to a weakening La Niña pattern in the equatorial Pacific.

In my next installment of Weather Babble in May’s Lake Life, I’ll bore you with what I think summer will bring to our area. In the meantime, remember to stay out of the floodwaters.

They could make for a very bad day!

Sheriff’s office responds to 159 calls in March

WAT E R L E V E L I CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

time in making a decision.

“Before the association opens the checkbook up and puts and assessment on everybody’s property, we better get a handle on cost,” he said.

Guinn said they have not looked into forming a taxing authority such as a lake management district.

The board plans to discuss the high water again at its next board meeting, Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the fire hall on Highway 2.

WDFW would handle permits Permitting the dredging work should not be a problem. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife would be the lead agency on the environmental and aquatic permits (SEPA and JARPA), which would address possible impacts on fish. WDFW’s Jeff Lawlor said the agency would be supportive of the project.

Permits could be approved by midsummer.

They discussed the history of dredging and work on the lake’s outlet. It was thought dredging was done in the late 1970s, but no one has found record of that. DLIA records mention dredging being done in the 1950s. That’s about when WDFW constructed the channel there to manage fisheries, Lawlor found in his paperwork.

Temporary beaver tubes were used in the mid-1990s and it made an immediate impact on the lake level, Lawlor said.

Installing the beaver tubes would require a hydraulic permit from WDFW. Volunteers would be able to install and maintain the tubes. A resident from Sacheen Lake who has been involved

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with the beaver tubes there said cleaning the tubes takes a lot of work. They must be cleaned every couple of weeks. At Sacheen Lake, they must pay the creekside property owner to be able to cross the private land and access the tubes. He said that costs $1,500 to $1,800 a year.

A resident asked about the possibility of asking the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to close the boat launch at Diamond Lake. Guinn said the board would not be pursuing that option.

Late last month, county commissioners issued a no wake order for Diamond and Sacheen lakes. Commissioner Diane Wear attended last week’s meeting at Diamond Lake, as did sheriff Alan Botzheim, county natural resources planner Todd McLaughlin and prosecutor Tom Metzger.

DIAMOND LAKE – The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office responded to 159 calls for service during the month of March in the Diamond and Sacheen lake areas. That is up from 122 in February. Traffic stops topped the list at 55, followed by sex offender/compliance checks at 11.

Three burglaries were reported. One of the investigations led to two arrests and the recovery of a trailer, snowmobiles, firearms and camping equipment.

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Guinn sent the letter to Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, April 13. She feels the local government is not doing enough to help.

“We have been to Town Hall Meetings, County Commissioners meetings, invited County officials to our meetings and literally begged for assistance and advice regarding our high water level. We have received very little,” she wrote.

Morton forwarded the letter on to Reps.

Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, and Shelly Short, R-Addy, and others.

“The State agencies have established so many restrictions and regulations protecting wetlands and wildlife that people and property are suffering,” Guinn wrote to Morton. “This is not acceptable in our saturating situation.

“We agree that this is a wet spring, but according to some long-time residents the lake has never been this high,” she wrote.

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Anglers who use Washington State Parks or Department of Natural Resource areas need the $30 annual or $10 daily Discover Pass.

WDFW’s annual “Fishing In Washington” sport fishing rules pamphlet is available at license dealers, WDFW offices and at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/. Current rules are in effect through April 30, 2012; rules for May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013 will be posted online and available in printed form by May 1.

Five thefts were reported, including the theft of two tubular gates, prescription medications, scrap metal, and a church bell painted blue. One vehicle was reported stolen, a 1987 Toyota pickup, Washington license plate number B74054D, burgundy in color with a Bear brand snow plow attached. Deputies responded to nine traffic accidents with damage and six with injuries. Eight disabled vehicles were called in and seven suspicious circumstances.

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April 2012 | Lake Life 15

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The philanthropic and social group meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at noon at various locations. Call president Maria Bullock at 509-998-4221 to find out where. The group raises money for various causes. Visit sosacheen. tripod.com/sacheenladiesofthelake.

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The Cowles Scout Reservation at Diamond Lake will host a rendezvous for varsity and venture scout. Activities include black powder and trap shooting, bow and arrow, hawk and knife throwing, log sawing, orienteering, the Colter run, primitive camp, a Dutch oven cook-off, campfires and prizes.

Wednesday, May 2 Diamond Lake Improvement Association

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The monthly meeting of the DLIA is held at 6:30 p.m. at the fire station on Highway 2. The board plans to discuss ways to address the high water issue. Visit www.diamondlakewa.org.

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Wednesday, May 2 Watershed Planning Group Meeting

The planning group for the Middle and Little Spokane Rivers (the Department of Ecology’s Watershed Resources Inventory Areas 55 and 57) will meet from 9 a.m. to noon a the Spokane County Conservation District office, 210 N. Havana. WRIA 55 includes Diamond and Sacheen Lakes as well as Eloika Lake, Dry Creek, Deer Creek, Deadman Creek, Dragoon Creek and the Little Spokane River. The group typically meets on the first Monday of the month. Visit www.spokanecounty. org/wqmp/projects.

Wednesday, May 2 Diamond Lake Water and Sewer

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The water sewer board will have their bi-monthly meeting at 10 a.m. in the District Office, 172 South Shore Road.

Wednesday, May 2 Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water

The water and sewer board will have their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Sacheen Fire Station, Highway 211.

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Wednesday, May 16 Diamond Lake Water and Sewer

The water sewer board will have their second meeting of the month at 10 a.m. in the District Office, 172 South Shore Road.

Thursday, May 17 South Pend Oreille Fire & Rescue

The fire district that covers Diamond and Sacheen Lakes as well as the Deer Valley, Camden and Fertile Valley areas meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Station 31, 325272 Highway 2, Diamond Lake.

Lake Life 16 | April 2012

Photo Contest

$18.30 Value

$24.00 Value

Email picture to: theminer@povn.com or drop off at The Miner office in Newport for scanning. Include name and phone number

Categories: Humorous Scenic Wild Animal Fish Watersport Pet Cute Kid Food Winners announced in next issue.