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Deer Lake Association
A member of the Minnesota Lakes Association

 

 

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NEWDLA Newsletter, Autumn 2023

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March 17

After weeks of warm, melting temps, and sap taps,

the weather suddenly turned cold,

with a inch of snow on Deer Lake.

Forecast is for a week of cold, then big snow.

Maple sapping season all afflustered!

Full ICE-OUT process seen here!

 

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Deer Lake Access needs Watercraft Inspectors for the 2024 season.

See below for information.

It is crucial that we keep ALL the various kinds of

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

OUT OF DEER LAKE!!

Level 1 Watercraft Inspector

Level 2 Watercraft Inspector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Latest Offerings from the DLA Boutique!

Click here for the DLA Boutique Page!

Questions?
 Please contact Jackie Johnston@ 612-490-9267 or
Holly Bushyager 443-504-9191
 

These Deer Lake Magic Mugs are our latest offering.

See the Shoppe webpage (click here)

More highlights:

Fur Family of Deer Lake

Image on a 50 x 60 fleece blanket ($50):

And:

A June 2023 to June 2024 DLA Wall Calendar

with all the DLA events and photos ($25)!

We also have bumper stickers, sunglasses and much more.

Click here for the DLA Boutique Page!

 

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Shoreland Stewardship

Click here for our Shoreland Initiative page

Get the Deer Lake Challenge Guide Here!

Suitablble for printing

 

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Deer Lake Sunset                                         Photo by Larry Baldwin

 

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The latest 2023 Edition of the

Deer Lake Property Owner's Handbook

is now available: click the link

 

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Water Wisdom Series

Noon talks on topics of great interest to Lake Residents.

These are free, on-line, one-hour noon-time seminars

from experts covering a variety of topics, with Q&A.

Beginning February 2 and continuing until November.

1st Thursdays of every month.

Click here for more information and registration.

 

 

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Stairway to Heaven on Otter Lake near Deer Lake

See the entire Ice-In Sequence HERE

 

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List of Neighborhood Communicators

All this Just a Click Away!

Message about Newsletter distribution via email.

 

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It's always Time to Renew

your DLA Membership,

or JOIN the DLA!

Click here for Details

And Please consider becoming a

LIFETIME MEMBER of the DLA!

 


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Click here for more information on Deer Lake Defence.

A beach full of invasive mussles makes bare feet impossible!

Video of AIS (featuring shots of Deer Lake)


Newly Dedicated Deer Lake Station

 

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A frosty morning around Deer Lakes provides beauty for all.

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Always ready for a Sailboat ride on Deer Lake             Photo by Larry Baldwin

 

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Pretty View on County Road 62 in 1935    (photo from DeCoster Family)

Points: Christmas from the left; Deer Path from the right; Battleship Island from left (barely visible).

A Fourth Point on the far right of the photo (just past sappling), is Little Itasca.

Pretty View Off-Leaf (2015)

Pretty View Map showing the Three Points

sighting the full length of

Deer Lake.

The Pretty View of Deer Lake today. 

We hope that the View can be improved in the future.

 

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The DNR's Eagle Cam  click for the cam

 

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Please take note:

click here for

Dangers of Rural Living

Information about

Ticks

Bluegreen Aglae

Poison Ivy

Black Bears

And Much More

 

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This chart gives water levels on Deer Lake for the last decade:

 

https://maps1.dnr.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/lakesdb/hydrograph_cgi.py?basins=31071900:Deer&startdate=2012-11-21&enddate=2022-11-21&&hydrograph_type=time_series&show_ohwl=1&show_legend=1&output_format=png&width=780&height=440

During the fall of 2021, we had near record low lake water levels on Deer Lake.  Then in the spring of 2022 rain and snow melt pushed the lake level to near record high.  This year, 2023 has seen the same pattern.  As you can see by the graph, the difference between highest and lowest is about one foot.  The usual fluctuation is about six inches.

 

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Beautiful Deer Lake


For generations, Deer Lake water quality has served as a foundation for family life and lakeshore property values.  All property owners can unite around the goal of improving water quality. 

DLA is introducing the Beautiful Deer Lake Water Quality Initiative.  It long-term effort including AIS prevention strategies and initiatives to improve water quality by reducing phosphorus loads dumped into Deer Lake by streams, septic systems, storm-water run-off, and shoreline erosion.  DLA is asking Deer Lake property owners to open our hearts to the lake and take action.  Please join our effort to improve Deer Lake water quality.  Thank you.

For more info click here!!

 

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Storms bring Welcome Water and Rainbows to Deer Lake

See more Deer Lake Rainbows Here

And please post more!

RAINBOWS

 

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Bear Island

Please do not use Bear Island wood for camp fires on the Island.

Be sure to bring your own firewood!

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Anybody remember the giant slide at Pinehurst Lodge in the old days?

More historical pics here!

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A Boating Curiosity on Deer Lake 

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Itasca County Interactive Maps

Here is the Parcel Information GIS map of the county:

IC Parcel Records

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*  More Links to Area Attractions and Agencies HERE 

*  Look for AnnouncementsPeople, and Hints pages in the FORUM section--

*  We welcome your submissions

Hints and Important Information about
Cabin Life in Itasca County

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About Deer Lake

Deer Lake is located in Itasca County about 12 miles north of Grand Rapids and about 8 miles NE of Deer River. The lake covers about 4,097 acres and is roughly 5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.  There are 20.7 miles of shoreline (25.6 if islands are counted). The lake has no inlets and only one outlet into the Deer River. Its water comes from rainfall and many surface and underground springs.  Deer Lake is considered "ooligotrophic" indicating very clear water with low nutrient levels.

There were 359 private "improved parcels" on Deer Lake (homes or cabins) counted during the 2005 survey, indicating mostly high shoreline development.  An additional 141 non-improved parcels were mostly in common ownership with the improved, but recent development since 2005 has seen many more homes and cabins built around the lake.  The State of Minnesota owns just 12 parcels, the majority of which are islands. 

Often called the "Lake of the Changing Colors", Deer Lake's crystal-clear water contains minerals that changes it's water to a brilliant blue-green
turquoise color on a bright summer day. This color, along with it's many islands and miles of scenic shoreline, make Deer Lake one of northern Minnesota's treasures. 

The "changing colors" is the result of ‘marling’ which occurs in lakes with a high calcium concentrate.   Changes in water chemistry (principally temperature and PH) can trigger the calcium carbonate to crystalize.  These microscopic crystals are known as ‘marl’ and become suspended in the water, slowly sinking.  The bright sunshine during the summer brings about the beautiful turquoise colours.  Observation of the changing colors depends on such aspects as angle of view, water turbulence, and time of day.  The precipitation of the calcium is thought to improve water quality due to the decrease of nutrients through the crystallization process.  However, the calcium in the water also helps zebra mussels to form their shells.

Deer Lake's depth ranges up to 121 feet. There are many reefs and rockpiles, some rising suddenly in mid-lake. The lake has 920 acres of "littoral area" (where the depth is less that 15 feet deep). This rocky littoral area is great for fishing, but presents real concerns for the safe boater. Many anglers come to catch trophy muskies, but small-mouth & large-mouth bass, walleyed pike, northern pike and a wide assortment of panfish are also present. Very clear water presents a challenge for daytime fishing.

Please Join the Deer Lake Association!

 

 

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Boating on Deer Lake       Photo by Sanna Pederson

 

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