News

Deer Lake was at a record high this Summer, 2025.

The DNR Water Level Gauge installed for the 2026 season. Currently Deer Lake is at its “normal”, median level.

Both Deer and the Creek from Moose and Little Moose flow into this intermediary Bay Lake, and then together as the headwaters of the Deer River to the Dam. Waters from the north (Moose and many smaller lakes) do not flow into Deer Lake, but from Bay, with Deer, along the Deer Rive to the Dam. Although the elevations between Moose, Deer, Bay and the Dam are slight, the flow includes no mixing of Deer and Moose Lake waters. This is important because Moose Lake has been infected by Zebra Mussels.

The hydrology graphs below show the lake level fluctuation of the 2025 summer season. Like recent years there has been an increasing degree of change, from high to low at the end of the summer.

The 10 year graph shows recent trends.

Finally, here is the full Historical Record of Deer Lake’s Lake Level”

Of interest is the increasing variance between high and low lake levels. Photos below show just how high and low the lake has bee in recent years, with the same dock, same height, as reference. The Low was from August 2021, the high water from July 2025.

Firewise was completed for the year 2025, but funding has run out for the 2026 season. Efforts are being made to hire an independent pickup around the lake for the willing, willing to pay for it, that is. DLA President Jeff Johnston is collecting names to see if enough residents would be willing to participate. It is hoped that the same contractor, One Two Trees, could provide a group discount.

Contact Jeff at jeff.m.johnston@live.com or beautifuldeerlake@gmail.com

Our Firewise brush pickup has some protocols. Please have your brush piles stacked and tagged with Bright Ribbons.  Best practice recommendation to observe “right-of-way” ordinance accommodating both County workers and One Two Trees. The contractor’s grappling hook can reach piles 15 feet back from the shoulder of the road (as practical).

Questions? More information HERE: https://deerlakeassociation.org/firewise/

Firewise Contacts:

Beth: 320-492-9595 briesgraf1952@gmail.com

Jessica: 763-360-2617 jessica.l.loes@gmail.com

Don’t end up like this environmental mess!

The Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offers FREE site visits to discuss the best shoreland projects, provide technical advice and cost-share funding. Contact Austin at austin.steere@itascaswcd.org