The level of Deer Lake remained stable all summer due to minimal beaver activity and low rainfall until recently. The gauge at the creek on County Road #533 stayed between 4.3 and 4.5 all summer until the heavy rains came. The level now is 4.7 until the outflow has an opportunity to drain down the volume. The spring time depth of water running over the steel plates at the dam was about 12" and through summer dropped down to 4" then as low as 1" to 1.5" during the dry spell.
All summer the lake level took care of itself, then in August the boat run volunteers discovered that beaver were building a dam on the rock dam. The dam was removed by Mark Smith, Jeff Stimac, Dave Nurka, Skylar Jensen and Larry Blackmer a couple of times, but the critters kept building the dam back up so we removed them. A picture of the start to their beaver dam is attached. The rock dam has been clear now for a few weeks to a month. If possible, it is best to go into winter freeze up with stable or normal water levels to minimize shoreline damage from high water and ice expansion.
The wild rice crop density increased and clogged the outflow creek even more so than last year. A picture of mud build-up along the edges from this year is attached. The picture shows wild rice in it's formation stage lying flat on the water at the end of June. Again, we are concerned about the outlflow depth over the long haul! Anyone curious about the outflow creek that and has a desire to view the rock dam is welcome to hitch a ride for a guided tour of the creek and rock dam with one of 4 individuals, Mark Smith, Bill Cromell, Dan Gallagher or Rick Jensen. It is a great 2.5 to 3 mile boat run in the marsh and wilderness! The trip should be taken in the spring through June or last 1/2 of September for open water and an easy run. Anyone wishing to view the vegetation clogging of the creek can pick a mid to later summer time of July and August, which will demand the motors be cleared of vegetation quite a few times in and out. I bit longer trip. Another maintenance project completed was skidsteer mowing of brush on the outflow access road. Next year the road wouldn't be driveable as heavy brush was overpowering the road. A brush hog skidsteer attachment was rented from Jeff Powell Excavating. Jeff was kind enough to offer a discount due to our non-profit status. Thank You Jeff! The bad holes in the road were fixed and one heavy rotten tree truck that had fallen across the road was chainsawed out. A picture is attached of the new look! Thank you everyone for your past and future support,
Bill Cromell, DLWA President