Lake Life - April 2013

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

Celebrating Life at Diamond Lake and Sacheen Lake Volume 2, Issue 1

Produced by The Miner Newspapers

April 2013

Fire District’s finances

Beavers control lake levels

New fish in lake

Publisher’s Note

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ur first five issues last summer of Lake Life were very popular with readers and advertisers. So we’re back this season with five more issues: April, May, June, July and August. The focus of this unique publication will be the same.

The Miner staff plans another mix of updates on issues impacting Sacheen and Diamond Lake residents while blending in stories about people enjoying summer lake life.

We will feature pictures from area residents so please email them to us with contact information. Long-time Diamond Lake resident Cliff Snow has provided us with some great pictures that we will feature in this summer’s publications. The cover is one of his pictures. He took the picture of the Great Blue Heron from his boat two years ago in July in the reeds at the outlet of the lake. Last week Cliff said he has seen two of the giant birds at the end of the lake. The Heron can have a wing span close to 7 feet, feeds on small fish and can winter in cold areas as long as there are wetlands available.

-Fred Willenbrock Publisher

Diamond Lake milfoil controlled DIAMOND LAKE – The non-native Eurasian milfoil is still in Diamond Lake, but no significant amounts were recorded by scuba divers last fall, according to Jerry Senn, the lake’s long-time milfoil committee chairmen for Diamond Lake Improvement Association.

They have two spots on the lake each about 20 feet by 20 feet with milfoil. They are in east bay and the point with the lighthouse, he said. They probably will spray them the first week in June.

Divers will again survey the lake at the end of the summer growing season. Property owners are asked to report any milfoil they see to Senn and hand pull any in shallow water.

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Published: April 2013 Publisher: Fred Willenbrock Writers & editors: Michelle Nedved, Janelle Atyeo and Don Gronning Design: Michelle Nedved Advertising: Susan Willenbrock, Lindsay Guscott, Cindy Boober

LAKE LIFE is published monthly in April, May, August, July and August as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

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.

If you want to receive Lake Life in the mail outside Pend Oreille County contact The Miner at 509-447-2433.

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Washington Department Fish and Wildlife planted more than 27,000 10-inch rainbow trout in Diamond Lake in midApril using several trucks. Jake Wolfe pumped his WDFW truck full of 10-inch rainbow trout into Diamond Lake at the new boat launch recently. They also planted several hundred of the large “jumbo” stock from the hatchery.

Sacheen, Diamond get share of state fish planting All fish planted in county by state are sterile

BY FRED WILLENBROCK OF THE MINER

DIAMOND LAKE – The Washington Department Fish and Wildlife trucks were busy planting fish in area lakes in recent weeks.

All of the rainbow trout they plant in Pend Oreille County are triploids which means they were made sterile at the hatcheries. This has been the state policy for several years for Pend Oreille County planting to avoid interfering with the native fish development projects here.

Diamond Lake received 27,000 rainbow trout ranging from 9 to 10 inches long in April. Sacheen Lake received about 5,000 of the rainbow trout this spring.

The state also plants fry and fingerlings in both lakes at other times. They had planted about 300 large “jumbo” stock from the hatchery in each lake that can be as large as 5 pounds to give lucky anglers a thrill.

The Diamond Lake Improvement Association also raised several thousand fish during the winter in a net pen at the Boy Scout camp dock. They

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April 2013 | Lake Life 3

Infrastructure

Groundwork started on Sacheen sewer system Plans call for project to go to bid in May

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

SACHEEN LAKE – If things go according to plan, Sacheen Lake will finally have a public sewer system by the end of 2014.

“We plan to go out to bid in May and plan to have construction complete by the end of 2014,” said Sheila Pearman, Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water District manager.

Once the bid is awarded, Pearman expects construction to start in June, she said.

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COURTESY PHOTO|SACHEEN LAKE SEWER AND WATER DISTRICT

Work has started on clearing small trees and brush from the lagoon site for the Sacheen Lake sewer. The state Department of Natural Resources got a grant for the work, which will reduce fire danger as well as clear the area for the sewer lagoons, which will be located about a mile from the lake.

The district has acquired the necessary easements from nearly 90 percent of the owners of the 386 parcels that will be part of the sewer system, Pearman said. The April 19 deadline for turning in easements passed and Pearman is hopeful there will still be some more coming in.

People who don’t give easements to their property by will be responsible for paying for their own on site improvements to hook into the sewer. Everyone within the Local Improve-

ment District will be required to connect to the sewer.

Kevin Koesel of Sewell and Associates was involved with designing the system. He says the designs were submitted to the state Department of Ecology in early March. Ecology must approve the design before the project goes out to bid, he says.

Construction will start shortly after the winSEE INFRASTRUCTURE, 12

Boater safety with free classes SACHEEN LAKE – Two Boater Safety Classes are being offered free of charge to the community – Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at the Sacheen Fire Station on Highway 211. The station is located 5 miles north and east of the juncture of Highways 2 and 211.

Classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those attending are encouraged to pack a lunch, and there is also a shop down the road that has lunch items available for take out.

Reservations are required.

Email kristibell55@gmail.com and give the date you wish to attend and the names and contact numbers of those attending. At the completion of the course, Schaefer will provide you with the necessary paperwork to send into the state for your card.

4 Lake Life | April 2013

Technology

Sacheen will be first for fiber service

BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The fiber optic network that’s been under construction for nearly two years now is set to hook up its first customers with high speed Internet this spring. The first hub that will be ready for service, the Pend Oreille Public Utility District decided, will be the Sacheen Lake area.

There’s still not an exact date, but a target of early May is when they’re looking to serve the first customers. Joe Onley, manager of the PUD’s Community Network System, said they’re encouraging people to pre-pick their service provider. Those that can get signed up early and have their service provider do their end of the required wiring may be able to avoid a bottleneck when the PUD’s end is complete.

Once the customer decides to subscribe to fiber service, there will be a small bit of work to complete the connection. Most PUD customers have had their service box installed on their houses next to their electric meters. Fiber optic cables run to that box, but so far the box is empty.

When a household or business decides it wants fiber service, they’ll contact an ISP and get on the schedule to be hooked up. The PUD technicians will visit the house and install the electronics in the outdoor box and hook it to electric power.

From there, an ISP can get you connected.

Depending on what service is requested, the interior wiring could be minimal or relatively extensive. Charges will vary for ISP wiring and installation work.

Onley said the PUD chose the Fertile Valley area to light up first because it has a relatively large population base and is underserved.

While Newport residents have six options for service – dial-up, DSL, wireless, satellite, cable and fiber – and Diamond Lake has almost as many, those living in Fertile Valley currently have two options: dial-up and satellite. Dial-up is notoriously slow, and the satellite is costly and can have spotty service.

Onley said they wanted to give the Internet service providers the area where they would have the most success. Per state law, the PUD can’t sell Internet service directly to customers. There

must be an Internet service provider (ISP) acting as a middleman.

There are three hubs in the Sacheen area, and most are served by the overhead line, which was first to be complete throughout the PUD’s system. There are about 100 potential customers.

For the rest of South Pend Oreille County, most of the fiber construction will be completed around July. The new

final deadline from the federal government, which provided stimulus funds for the work, is Sept. 30.

The PUD is finished with the build-out of its fiber backbone, having taken fiber down every major road in South Pend Oreille County. From the 400 miles of overhead backbone, the service drops are done, meaning if you have electricity that comes in from an overhead line, you are

set to go for fiber service.

But if your neighbor has his electric line coming in underground, he may have a longer wait.

The ISPs are gearing up to serve customers. Local ISPs who have been with the county since the days of crawling dialup speeds have come up with their game plans for delivering the fast, SEE TECHNOLOGY, 13

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Weather Babble Seasonal summary and outlook

too are the bugs, which does not hurt my “feeling” (yes, I only have one) at all!

CLIMATOLOGIST Well, for this first issue of Lake Life, I thought I would reminisce a bit about the past winter and let you all SACHEEN LAKE – First off, for those know what lies ahead (not that I have a clue) but, I’ll give seasonal folks returning to our lakes, I it my best shot anyway because that’s what I do. want to say welcome back! For the rest of us So, for those that follow my forecasts on climatehawk. that fought the “battles of winter” up here org, it should have come as no surprise (unlike the in the snow-belt, I’m sure you’ll join me shocker I had when The Miner actually invited me back in welcoming spring! Though, as I sit and again this year) that we saw quite a bit of snow this write this, I’m still looking at snow piles at season.

Lutz the end of my roadway. There is actually an However, before that all happened, November did its explanation (or two) for that (which I’ll get best to make a liar out of me. You see, after all the snow to later) but it’s still rather disturbing. Most would agree that fell earlier in the month, I would have gone to Vegas that the snow-melting fairy is a bit late this year, but so and bet that we would not see any ground again until spring. Man, was I ever wrong! November alone saw over 7 1/3 inches of liquid equivalent and by the 19th, it seemed that every trace of snow that fell earlier in the month was gone. (Hence the reason why I do not gamble) As if that wasn’t enough, November turned out to be the second wettest month on record – but wait – there’s more! (Now I’m starting to sound like an infomercial.)

December was not to be outdone and just in case there might still have been an ounce of snow on the ground, under some tree, someplace in Pend Oreille County, the “rain” of terror continued through the first week of the month making sure to finish its job of melting every last snow flake.

At last, we finally saw the tables turn on Just past The Crossroads at Hwy 20 & 211 in the 9th when snow started to fall again. This beautiful Downtown Usk, WA - 509.445.1262 time, there was no turning it off, as every day saw some degree of snowfall right through the 31st.

Our biggest storm by far was the snow monster that hit from the 19th through the 21st, which dumped more than 20 inches in Why eatt iin a bbar Wh when you can drink many parts of the county. Before it was all in a restaurant? said and done, more than 55 inches of snow fell in December. That combined with the Sun. - Tue. 6am - 3pm earlier rainfall made for the all-time wettest Wed. - Sat. 6am - 9pm Bar Open Late on weekends month on record with 8.02 inches of liquid

BY BOB LUTZ

USK GRILL

new

equivalent recorded at my weather station. This helped set-up a near record wet year, which by the way came in at a whopping 47.37 inches for 2012. Whew, just reviewing all those precipitation numbers gives a guy a headache!

With the New Year, came a whole new weather pattern as the seemingly unending train of storms just mysteriously began to fade away. Well, maybe not so “mysterious” to us weather gurus, but the word itself does make for some good drama! Truth be known, it was our friend Arctic Oscillation which made for a quieter second half of winter here in the Northwest.

Now, if you felt a little déjà vu, I’m happy to tell you that you are not crazy. The same exact thing happened last winter. High pressure built out over the eastern Pacific, which served to shunt most of the winter weather to our friends on the East Coast, leaving us with a much drier pattern. Snowfall for January thru March only totaled just over 39 inches, which was a far cry from the 55 received in December alone. Even so, the snow still piled up and really stuck (no pun intended) around.

The other phenomenon that was a no-show this winter was our typical “January thaw,” and without it, the snow packed like concrete. That, combined with our very chilly overnight temperatures, has made for the very slow meltdown this spring. This is not a bad thing though, as it has kept any flooding down to a minimum so far this spring.

Looking into my hazy (very hazy) crystal ball, the rest of spring looks to feature the typical ups and downs we have grown to know and love here in the Inland Northwest. As for summer, with no El Niño, La Niña, or any other “Niña” for that matter, the season should be fairly “normal” with near average temperatures and precipitation. Now, if any of the Niña’s or Niño’s rare their ugly heads out in the Equatorial Pacific, then all bets are off.

In the next issue of Lake Life, we’ll talk boating and weather safety. In the meantime, it’s back out to rake more grass and move the real estate (dirt) I scraped off while snow plowing this winter, back to its original home. Yuck!

Not sure what I “like” more – raking or plowing the driveway every other day. Yep, definitely snow plowing!

At least with plowing, I can sit on my (well, you know) and make gargantuan piles, which come to think of it, is probably another reason why I’m still looking at snow on the ground out my office window.

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Lake Level

Diamond level dropping; outlet clearing continues

BY FRED WILLENBROCK OF THE MINER

inspecting the North Shore Road culvert and cleaning it when necessary, according to Public Works Director Sam Castro.

At a meeting this spring, called by the county commissioners to review the lake level situation, Castro had presented the historic and current information he gathered on the lake level. Castro said the county’s legal ability to assist private property owners in limited.

Community Development Director Mike Lithgow told

the group that his department can assist with temporary erosion protection plans and assist with applications for permits for permanent construction.

The county commissioners also invited WDFW officials to the meeting and they confirmed that the DLIA had permits necessary to keep the channel open by eliminating new obstructions.

Some property owners along the outlet have objected to the work and not given access over their properties.

DIAMOND LAKE – By the end of April, mother nature and man made openings in beaver dams and the outlet ditch had apparently started a slow lowering of the Diamond Lake level. Although it is still at its higher-thannormal level for spring those working on lowering it are optimistic about its return to normal this summer.

Dan Holman, a Diamond Lake Improvement Association board member who is leading their lake level control efforts, said on April 25 that a small group of volunteers had maintained the breaches in the beaver dams and will continue to keep the ditch clear from North Shore Road to the beaver ponds.

They have a hydraulics permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that allows Gorgeous Home & Horse property! Complete privacy. 37+ acres! Newer home has 3 them to remove new obstructions bedrooms 2 ½ baths. Lovely fireplace. Huge master suite with double walk in closets. to the outlet. DLIA also paid for a Massive living room. 1 story. Handicap accessible. Covered front porch. Gourmet kitchsurvey that shows the dams are en w/new stainless appliances & rock fireplace. Attached 2 car garage. Huge 3 bay 48 on the property of an individual x 56’ shop with full length upper bay! Wired and ready for apartment. Full RV hookup. who has given them permission to 36’ x 36’ Barn has 6 stalls & tack room that is top of the line! Two lean-tos & corrals! work.

DLIA also has a level gauge at Creek! Log Cabin! It’s all here. Beautiful views. Tour www.johnlscott/25256 $399,900 the North Shore Road culvert and the beaver dams to monitor the lev- Gorgeous Home & Horse Setup! Top of the line home has Private Diamond Lake beach access in this beautiful els. There is a 2-foot drop between scraped birch floors, hickory cabinets, a beautiful floor to cedar 1 ½ story home plus basement. 4 bedrooms 3 ½ them. Since they have cleared the ceiling fireplace. Lovely craftsman stone work throughbaths. Living room ditch last fall and someone opened out the home. boasts beautiful the dams this winter the lake has Kitchen boasts panabode floor to dropped, Holman said. This shows hickory cabinets, ceiling windows that one of the big problems is the granite counters and tongue and blocked outlet and a major factor and a warm in causing the high water that has groove ceiling. friendly open plagued some property owners for Master suite with atmosphere. Loft the past two years. private deck and family room. 5 Holman said they will continue full bath. Basement bedrooms 3 baths. Full basement. Wrap around decks w/ to keep the ditch and dams open has large famand monitor the Diamond Lake stone columns. Large barn, pasture, paddock, riding arena ily room, second level and make sure they don’t & riding trails. Add views of Sacheen Lake & nothing is master suite with full bath and walk-out entrance. Large dump too much water on Sacheen lacking in this beautiful estate. double lot. Borders small neighborhood park.

Lake either. They predict about a Tour at www.johnlscott.com/47923 $399,900 Tour www.johnlscott.com/61940 $224,900 1-inch per week drop with current conditions. Eventually, they could NEW HOME! 3 bedrooms, One of the nicest 5 acre lots in the county. Ready for install a tube in the beaver dam 2 full baths, Offi ce, Large your new home. Just and keep it cleaned. DLIA also has Utility room, 2 car garage. minutes from beautiful a state permit for the tube.

Open fl oor plan.

1805 sq Diamond Lake. Paved DLIA is also paying for a beaver ft.

Front & back country Road. Culdasac Lots trapper to cut the population down porches.

Custom cabinets.

Stainless appliances.

Masof privacy. Rural setting. and help slow their dam work ter has 2 walk-in closets, lg corner tub, double sinks & Abundant wildlife. Will this summer. The cost is $85 per separate shower.

5 nicely treed acres.

Paved county road. build to suit. Builders beaver.

Holman said DLIA is accepting Quiet cul-de-sac. Minutes from beautiful Diamond Lake. welcome. donations for the beaver removal Tour at www.johnlscott.com/36227 $229,900.

Tour at www.johnlscott.com/11089 $39,900 and to purchase the beaver tubes.

They haven’t received any governMary Ann Jones, ment assistance and need financial Des. Broker, ABR GRI SRES support. maryannjo@johnlscott.com The three new Pend Oreille www.johnlscott.com/maryannjo County commissioners have said 509-671-0193 they do not plan to place a no wake 888-234-7355 • 800-546-5570 order on Diamond Lake this year as other commissioners have in the www.JohnLScott.com 301 N. Union Ave • Newport, WA past.

Office 509-447-3144 • Toll FREE 888-234-7355 The county road crews are also

April 2013 | Lake Life 7

Wildlife

Controlling beavers at Sacheen Lake ongoing work prevent the destruction of beaver dams.

The result has been that the lake level has been higher.

SACHEEN LAKE – Don Hill remem“Once the dams were protected, the bers growing up at Sacheen Lake in the lake level hasn’t been the same,” Hill 1950s and 60s. Back then controlling says. The water is much higher than it the rising water caused by beaver dams used to be. was a simple matter of using dynamite The higher water level has resulted in to blow up the dams. It worked as far as property damage, Hill says. keeping the lake level down.

“The main concern is shoreline eroFor the last couple decades, however, sion,” he says. That and flooding. The environmental laws have evolved to high water has flooded into people’s basements.

“Some properties flood every year,” he said.

“It’s a chronic problem.”

• Wills • Probate The lake • Trusts • Medicaid has more silt • Powers of Attorney • Business than it used 301 S. WASHINGTON AVE. - SUITE A to have when NEWPORT • (509) 447-3242 the dams were dynamited.

Of course the beavers were there before people and Hill doesn’t want to go back to Cusick, WA the days of Aluminum dynamiting 445-1406 Docks the dams. He Ramps accepts that people and Swim beavers have Ladders to coexist.

“They’re a part of nature and we don’t

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

D S

LAW OFFICE OF DENISE STEWART

S-K Marine

COURTESY PHOTO|SACHEEN LAKE SEWER AND WATER DISTRICT

Volunteers Perry Pearman and Don Hill work to install grates to keep beavers from filling the beaver tubes installed in the beaver dams at Sacheen Lake a couple of winters ago. The beaver tubes allow water to flow out of Sacheen Lake but beavers constantly try to block them. The galvanized metal pipe holds the tube in place.

want to eradicate them,” he says.

But controlling the damage caused by high water has meant more work.

Beaver tubes were installed at the beaver dams. The tubes are a pair of 2-foot culverts that go horizontally through the beaver dam and allow the water to

flow through the dam. The beavers are skilled builders, however, and work to fill the tubes with tree limbs and other debris.

“It’s ongoing work to maintain them,” Hill says.

When tubes were first installed about 20 years ago they were made out of cedar, says Perry Pearman, one of the volunteers who helps maintain them. That didn’t work so well.

“Your Premier Home Builder Since 1958” “The beavers ate them,” he said. “They thought we were bringing them food.”

The current setup with hard plastic pipe seems to work well, he says. Grates were installed to slow the beavers from filling the tubes.

Hill says he has about 25 volunteers that help keep the beaver tubes open and water 538 Quail Loop • Newport, WA flowing out of the lake. Clearing the beaver tubes is a two-person Clark Construction has built more homes in operation, he says.

Quail Ridge Estates than any other contractor.

In the wintertime, it involves canoeing and snowshoeing to get to the dams, which are located on private property at the south end of the lake. Hill is president of the Sacheen Lake Association. The Sacheen Lake Association and the Sacheen call Lake Sewer and Water District Washington License # CLARKC*110CG

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Government

Where to see the Shoreline Master Program Comment period open on Shoreline Master Program Most lake homes grandfathered in

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Another comment period on Pend Oreille County’s Shoreline Master Program is underway, with comments accepted through May 29.

The county has been working since 2007 on updating its Shoreline Master Program, which is the document regulating development along the 60 rivers, lakes and streams in the county, including Diamond and Sacheen lakes.

It establishes new development rules and related permitting requirements.

After numerous public meetings, Pend Oreille County commissioners signed off on the plan last year.

Because existing homes are grandfathered in under the current standards, most homeowners on Diamond and Sacheen lakes won’t see much change as a result of the SMP. “It’s really not going to change much for them,” said Mike Lithgow, the county’s community development director.

Even if a home burned down, the homeowner could rebuild as close as 25 feet, he said.

Diamond Lake is well over 90 percent built out, Lithgow said, although there are a couple vacant lots. Sacheen Lake has quite a few vacant lots to which the new rules will apply.

If a homeowner wants to build closer than the 100-foot setback on a new construction, that still may be possible under the proposed plan, using customized buffers.

The common line setback provision allows homeowners to build using setbacks similar to what the neighboring properties are allowed. So if neighbors on both sides of your property have built using the 25-foot setback, there is a good chance you will be able to also.

Docks are regulated under the new SMP. For the most part, a dock can be no longer than 55 feet and can have no more than 320 square feet of surface area.

Covered docks are not allowed.

Sometimes people have put temporary carport-like structures on their docks, Lithgow said. That isn’t allowed under the new plan. Lithgow said they aren’t very practical anyway, as they tend to blow away in the wind.

“They kind of regulate themselves,” he said.

New boathouses are not allowed under the new SMP. Ex-

isting boathouses are grandfathered in.

The state Department of Ecology is accepting comments from throughout the state during the comment period.

Once the comment period ends, Ecology will review the comments and the

SMP’s compliance with state law and as written, reject it or direct the county publish a response, said Jaime Short of to modify specific parts. the Department of Ecology. Short said Once the plan is approved for complithat while Ecology and the county have ance with law, it will be forwarded to been working together to make sure the the director of Ecology. Fourteen days plan complies with the law, a review at after the director signs off, the SMP will a higher level may give a become law, although there is a 60-day different perspective. period when it can still be appealed, After that, Ecology Short said.

You can read the Pend Oreille County Shoreline may approve the proMaster Program online at www.pendoreilleco.org/ posed shoreline program SEE PROGRAM, 15 county/shoreline_master_program_update.asp.

People can also view Pend Oreille County’s proposed shoreline program and related documents at: • Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office: 4601 N. Monroe Street, Spokane Pend Oreille County • Pend Oreille County Community Development Department: 625 West Fourth St., Newport • Pend Oreille Public Library – Ione Branch: 210 Blackwell, Suite 1, Ione “Quality Service at Low Cost” • Kalispell Valley Library: 107 First Ave., Cusick • The Department of Ecology’s website at: www. ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelines/smp/mycomments/PendOreille You can read the Pend Oreille County Shoreline www.popud.com 509-447-3137 509-242-3137 Master Program online at www.pendoreilleco.org/ county/shoreline_master_program_update.asp.

People can also view Pend Oreille County’s proposed shoreline program and related documents at: • Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office: 4601 N. Monroe Street, Spokane • Pend Oreille County Community Development Over 25 yr experience Department: 625 West Fourth St., Newport • Pend Oreille Public Library – Ione Branch: 210 Blackwell, Suite 1, Ione • Kalispell Valley Library: 107 First Ave., Cusick • The Department of Ecology’s website at: www. ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelines/smp/mycomments/PendOreille Spokanes’ largest scuba inventory

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DIAMOND LAKE – If you have a medical or fire emergency at Diamond or Sacheen lakes, volunteers from South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue will come to your aid.

South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue was formed a few years ago by the merging of Pend Oreille Fire District Nos. 1, 3 and

7. It covers 150 square miles, including Sacheen and Diamond lakes, and exists on tax revenue, grants and donations.

In 2012, the district received about $350,000 in tax revenue, and will collect about the same in 2013. The tax rate is 98 cents per $1,000 of property valuation.

The district applies for various grants and gets donations from various groups in the community.

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“(We have) huge community support,” chief Mike Nokes said.

The district is doing well financially, able to purchase the equipment needed by its 50 volunteers.

Last year, the district was able to purchase 10 new turnouts, the gear worn by firefighters during a fire. The recommended lifespan of a turnout is 10 years; some of the previous turnouts used by South Pend Oreille were pushing 20 years. Each turnout cost $1,600 for the pants and jacket.

The district also purchased a heart monitor for $4,500. Nokes said about 70 percent of the EMS calls the district goes on are heart related. The monitor tells the EMTs if the person is indeed having a heart attack, without having to wait for a trip to the hospital.

The district’s budget is built on tax revenue, used for fuel, utilities, the operation of five different fire stations, 25 different “rolling” apparatuses, such as trucks and engines, and insurance, which averages about $15,000 annually. The budget is also used for training, electricity and office supplies.

Nokes, along with a part-time secretary are currently the only two paid staff working for the district. Nokes’ salary is $57,000 annually. The district is in the process of hiring a part-time firefighter/EMT. Nokes said the position will hopefully be filled SEE FIRE, 14

Environment

Diamond Lake’s unofficial boat inspector at launch DIAMOND LAKE – The full time lake host, Lyle Lybbert, and volunteers from the Diamond Lake Improvement Association are at the new Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife boat launch and dock. The group wants to increase the odds of stopping non-native and invasive species from entering the lake. Boaters launching there will be asked to have their boat inspected, voluntarily.

The association pays Lybbert, who lives in a motor home at the launch near the restrooms.

He takes a day off during the middle of the week and gets help from volunteers during the busy holidays and weekends.

Lybbert, who started doing the inspections for the association last summer, says on the Fourth of July weekend they did 90 inspections. Lybbert is a retired diesel mechanic who had been coming to the area for years and staying at Little Diamond. He fished in Diamond Lake.

Last year he read the advertisement in The Miner for a lake host and applied.

The state’s gate at the entrance will not be closed, Lybbert said. But he pointed out that the state has posted hours for the launch from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pam Tully is the DLIA board member heading the boat inspection committee this year.

She says the inspections will be made from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

Tully says DLIA is accepting donations for the host and other expenses. They don’t receive any funding from the state or local governments.

Lybbert, who works for DLIA, said he does not have the authority to make those using the launch stop for inspection but he found last year that most people cooperated. If he or volunteers who have gone to training sessions suspect a watercraft might be contaminated and those trying to launch aren’t cooperating, they will call the sheriff’s office.

Tully said the training sessions were provided by Idaho officials in Post Falls. She said they walked around a boat and the instructor pointed out areas to look at where the invasive species might be.

Tully said if they see some mud or other suspicious materials they will ask the boat owner to go to the upper parking area on Highway 2 and they will give it a cold water wash.

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For the second year, Lyle Lybbert is the fulltime host at Diamond Lake. He, along with a group of volunteers, will inspect watercraft for non-native, invasive species from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

the potential to dump water in Diamond Lake that might be contaminated. They will ask the owners to dump the water at the upper parking lot and refill it in the lake, Tully said.

The volunteers and host wear shirts printed with the DLIA project name: Clean Boats, Clean Waters. Those interested in volunteering to inspect boats during Lybbert’s time off can contact Tully at 509-447-5942 or Geri Guinn at 509-270-4179.

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INFRASTRUCTURE | Not cheaper smaller trees and scrub as part of a fuels reduction project to reduce fire risk. The thinning will ning bid is awarded. also allow the larger timber room to grow, she “It should take about 18 months,” he said. said.

Commissioners at the Sacheen Lake Sewer The plan calls for effluent from the homes to and Water District voted to establish the current be piped to the wastewater treatment site, where Local Improvement District to fund the sewer in it will be treated in about 16 acres of lagoons, 2011. with the treated effluent sprayed in the forest.

People with developed property within the LID The sewer project is expected to cost $7.9 milwill be assessed about $17,000 to connect to lion. The district borrowed the money from the the sewer, Pearman said, although the exact state Public Works Board on a 20-year loan at 2 amount isn’t yet known. percent interest in December 2011.

If bids come in dramatically higher than There has been some confusion about the anticipated, commissioners will have to decide loan, Pearman said. how to proceed.

“Some people think we have this big chunk “It’s not going to get any cheaper,” she said. of money and are paying interest on it,” she Plans call for people with undeveloped propsaid. That isn’t true, she said. The district gets erty to be assessed less than the $17,000, she the money as it needs it. So far the district has said. received about $1 million she said, which was The state Department of Natural Resources mostly spent on designing the system. is currently thinning trees on 43 acres of the If the project is finished within 48 months treatment site, which is located on 160 acres of of getting the loan, the interest is reduced by property the district owns about a mile north a quarter percent. If it is finished within 36 of the lake, near Rocky Gorge Road. months, by December 2014, it is reduced anPearman said DNR got a grant to thin the other quarter percent.

“On millions of dollars, that 1-800-310-DOCK can be a significant reducwww.marinewestindustries.com tion,” Pearman said, which is why the district is pushing to have it completed by the end of 2014.

Floating & Free-Standing Docks Gangways & Ramps The sewer system has been Boat Lifts & Canopies controversial. District comSwim Rafts missioners initially tried to form an LID for a $9 million system in 2010 but a group opposing the project successfully challenged it in Superior Court.

Display yard 8800 N. Fairview, Spokane A judge ruled that the district had improperly included some public property in the LID, which had the effect of raising the bar for the number of people needed to challenge Office 509-244-5421 • Toll Free (800) 396-2220 the LID formation. www.spokanerock.com To overturn the LID without going to court, owners of 40 percent of the property in the LID needed to formally object.

With the public property included, it unfairly raised the bar for the objectors, the judge ruled.

So commissioners formed a smaller LID for the smaller sewer project.

Despite the controversy, the district is committed to building a sewer system.

The district was formed by A S P H A LT • C O N C R E T E people who wanted a sewer S A N D & G R AV E L and it seems they’re about to SACKED PRODUCTS get one.

“I think it is exciting,” said LANDSCAPE ROCK Peggy Johnsen, Sacheen Lake Site Locations Sewer and Water District comHavana • Airway Heights • Post Falls • Elk • Chattaroy missioner. “This change will Millwood • Barker • Sprague Quarry take us into the 21st century.”

3 Local Ready Mix Locations FROM PAGE 4

TECHNOLOGY | More competition FROM PAGE 5

for government approval to develop their fiber network in the Sacheen Lake area. They have fiber to the Diamond Lake area – a sort of hybrid DSL, using some copper phone lines to the home. The new DSL basically takes the equipment to neighborhoods and allows them to use their existing telephone copper lines within 15,000 feet. Then it is connected to the fiber backbone.

Depending on where you live and the quality of the connection, average download speeds are around 12 Mbps. Frontier’s standard Internet package will offer 6 Mbps download speeds for $29.95 per month with a three-year contract.

They provide television via DISH Network and bundle it with internet and telephone.

Most companies are also offering Internet protocol television and phone service over the Internet.

There are several other companies offering broadband service in the area, from dial up and wireless to satellite and service over 4G networks typically used by cell phones.

For more information on the fiber system and Internet service providers, check out The Miner’s Spring issue of Horizon magazine, available at The Miner Online, www.pendoreillerivervalley.com.

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new service. They’ll have much more competition, though. Regional service providers got wind of the fiber build out, and they’re moving in for a piece of the pie too.

Deck Dining Three service providers set up at the PUD’s BroadLocated on Beautiful Sand Creek band Fest in mid-April: Concept Cable and POVN Open for Lunch & Dinner have been providing Internet service in the area for “LIVE MUSIC” years, and iFiber is new in town but not new to the fiber game.

Judi Fox of the Diamond Lake area was trying to decide which service provider to go with. She wanted to know if bundling services – Internet, phone and television – would save her money.

You don’t want to be “We pay too much,” she said of their current serWhen you need it. . . vice. She was interested mainly in Internet service, without it. while her husband, John Fox, cares more about TV, she said.

Wendy and Ron Banka wanted to know about prices, and Internet speed is important to them too. They live in the Diamond Lake area and use a wireless service, they said. They use the Internet to do their banking, pay bills and send emails, and Ron said he’s tired of waiting 15 minutes for pages to download.

As for the cost of it all, it will depend on which services you get and Is your yard screaming for attention? which provider you go with. The We’ll scream back at a reasonable rate.

PUD board set its wholesale rates at 2 months free monitoring when you switch to Newport Alarm.

24 Years Experience $50 per month with a $35 introducMedical units shipped and monitored throughout the United States.

Full service yard care tory rate good through 2014. Each Serving Idaho and Washington ISP will pay that much per house& spring cleanup hold to the PUD and pass it on to in the security business since 1966. the customer. An additional $5 per Free Jack L. Williams • Owner es port will be charged for additional stimat E services – if you want IPTV or VOIP (800) 938-4184 phone service in addition to your Deb & Debbie newportalarm@ hotmail.com Internet.

509-710-3976 newportalarm.net The company iFiber, which is headquartered in Ephrata, Wash., has been advertising a 100 Megabit It is 2013 and the Fiber system in South Pend Oreille is mostly per second (Mbps) Internet connection for $59.95 per month. Customready for folks to Get Connected. Find a Service Provider ers should be aware that limitations offering futuristic bandwidth for your Office with a view. do apply to those speeds. The PUD allows so much bandwidth, and websites may limit you too.

Newport-based POVN – Pend Oreille Valley Networks – will have a standard fiber package with 100 Mbps for $74.95 per month.

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Concept Cable, also based in Newport, has not announced fiber pricing yet. But they already providing Internet and cable television service in the Diamond Lake area using their cable system. Their prices are based on speed: The Essential Internet package, offering 3 Mbps download speeds, costs $27.95 a month for cable customers and $51.85 a month for non-cable customers. Along with the Extended Basic Channels, a customer would pay a total of $80.90 per month.

In your backyard or at your lake/river front in Southern Pend Oreille County you now Some companies are working on have available a fiber optic system that can deliver an array of today and tomorrow’s their own fiber network in the area. broadband services. Find a service provider for your needs at www.CNSfiber.net.

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Boy Scouts gear up for summer camps DIAMOND LAKE – Camp Cowles will be a busy place this summer, like all summers.

Anyone can come out and lend a hand at the work weekend set for mid-May. Meet Saturday,

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May 18 at Carbon Lodge from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lunch provided. Projects include manual labor that doesn’t require a lot of experience – painting, staining and basic repairs.

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around June 1. The wage is budgeted for $10 per hour.

EMTs have to maintain their training and it takes 160 hours of training to become one. The district has 56 volunteers, 20-25 of which are EMTs. Nokes points out that most have primary jobs elsewhere and volunteer their time to SPOFR. The district received a donation from the local 4-H kids, used to purchase a thermal imaging camera. The camera allows fire fighters to see heat inside walls, to determine if a fire has spread there. They can also use it to see flames through smoke.

The district used money from the Diamond Lake Improvement Association to purchase a RIT pack, which is a portable air supply system.

It is used to save firefighters who have run out of oxygen. Some firefighters go into the fire, others – known as the RIT team – stay outside. If a firefighter becomes trapped in a fire, they send in the RIT team. The district also maintains a reserve fund, which totaled about $100,000 in mid-2012.

Along with Diamond and Sacheen lakes, SPOFR also covers Deer Valley, Camden and Fertile Valley. Commissioners are Gary Wilkey, Randy Miller, Leonard Pielli, Galen Hansen and Karen Johnston.

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FROM PAGE 8

work together on beaver control.

Hill says volunteers clear the beaver tubes a couple times in the winter and weekly in the summer.

The landowner grants access for the work and the volunteers to do the work. Volunteers clear the tubes using rakes and haul away the debris.

“We canoe from dam to dam,” says Hill. “It’s ongoing grunt work.”

It’s grunt work he enjoys, however.

“It’s always enjoyable to get out into the wet-

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lands,” Hill says. “It’s really pretty.”

Depending on who has money, either the Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water District or the Sacheen Lake Association also pays to have some beavers trapped and killed.

When the sewer district fails to pass a maintenance and operations levy, the lake association picks up the tab.

Otherwise, the sewer district pays.

The district pays a trapper who gets a permit to remove some beavers.

The trapper is paid about $100 a beaver. The permits have a time period, so the cost depends on how many the trapper can catch within the time period.

Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water District Manager Shelia Pearman says last year the district paid for eight beavers to be removed. This year they have budgeted for 13.

Hill estimates there are about 60 or so beavers and four dams in the west branch of the Little Spokane River drainage that flows southwest out of Sacheen Lake.

He said the lake association would like to have the beaver relocated instead of killing them.

They are in contact with the Lands Council in Spokane to see if that is something that can be done.

The Lands Council has a beaver relocation project, but the problem is finding someone willing to have the beavers relocated to their property, he said.

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New business goes old fashioned DIAMOND LAKE – This spring, the gas station pects the store to employ two people to start. Their at Diamond Lake is going back in time. Merv’s offerings will include hard ice cream, fresh baked Mercantile is opening soon in the former Eagle goods, espresso and tea. Merv’s will offer a place to Point Mini Mart on Highway 2. The retro-themed sit and relax, Wi-Fi access and public restrooms. gas station and store will offer full service by Other goods include fishing supplies and worms, uniformed employees. Along with that, the store automotive supplies, outdoor gear, some groceries will carry an assortment of treats – espresso and and household items. ice cream included – and provisions for a day at the lake – from fishing gear to wine and beer.

Rob Munden and Sandi Munden are leasing the building from Roger Tompkins. Sandi grew up in Chewelah and Rob in St. Maries.

FROM PAGE 9 Over the years they’ve owned seven businesses, coffee shops There will still be a chance to appeal the plan after Ecoland trucking operations. A 5-acre ogy accepts it. property brought them to the DiaIf people disagree with interpretations of the SMP after mond Lake area earlier this year. it is in place, they will still have options, Lithgow said, but They have three grown kids, and there is only one appeal heard at the county level. After one grandchild. Sandi says she exthat they have to appeal to the Growth Management Hearings Board. If they are still unsatisfied after that, they can appeal to Superior Court.

At the county level, if they don’t like an administrative decision his department makes, they can appeal to the Pend Oreille County Planning Commission. They could also ask for a variance.

FROM PAGE 3 All of Washington’s cities and counties with regulated shorelines must update their programs by December 2014.

WDFW fish hatcheries.

They are following regulations adopted by Ecology in According to the 2013 WDFW 2003. stocking plan, the state also The regulations resulted from a negotiated settlement stocked Diamond Lake with among 58 different parties including business interests, 12,000 small brown trout. ports, environmental groups, shoreline user groups, cities Sacheen received 300 larger and counties, Ecology and the courts. eastern brook trout and 4,000 Ecology will accept public comment on the county’s small tiger trout. proposed shoreline program through 5 p.m. May 29.

For the 2013 trout fishing seaPeople can address comments and questions to Jaime son, 2.39 million catchables will Short, Department of Ecology, Shorelands and Environbe stocked throughout the state. mental Assistance Program, 4601 N. Monroe, Spokane, The average size of catchables WA 99205. Email Short at jaime.short@ecy.wa.gov or call on opening day this year will 509-329-3411. be larger than previous years, according to the WDFW. In previous years, catchables were on average 8 inches in length, but this year, they will be closer to 11 inches.

The catchables program will include 110,131 jumbos, which are fish that WDFW hatcheries raise to be one to 11 pounds.

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As county commissioners, we have logged in a few months at the job. We are still in the process of prioritizing, organizing and connecting with the community and other entities KAREN SKOOG with whom we work.

DISTRICT 1 COUNTY Some of the COMMISSIONER issues we have been discussing are timber harvest and open Forest Service roads, ATV use on county roads, wolf legislation, maintenance of county roads and buildings, and economic development. Your input is very important to us. You will find our contact information, minutes and agenda on the county website, www.pendoreille.org.

Recently we had a community meeting about water levels at Diamond Lake, and out of that meeting we toured several places that are affected by high water. Hydrogeologist Steven Neugebauer was present to explain the science involved.

This information will be helpful in decision making as we move toward the summer boating season.

We are excited to announce our first annual Volunteer Recruitment and Appreciation Fair, which will be held at the Fairgrounds in Cusick June 1. An informational flier and registration form are on our website. The volunteer spirit is the heart of the community and is what knits us together in both easy and hard times. The Volunteer Fair is an opportunity to thank our great community volunteers but also promote the services these organizations provide as well as connect people interested in volunteering with an organization. For information call Carrie McKinley at 509-447-6419.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your District 1 County Commissioner.

Karen Skoog was elected District 1 commissioner the in the 2012 general election and took office Jan. 1. She resides in the Elk area and represents south Pend Oreille County.

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