The Devils Lake Water Improvement District adopted the latest revision to the Devils Lake Plan at its March 2011 meeting. Thank you to all that provided input on the plan. Your comments were very valuable in producing this latest version. Having adopted the plan the District is actively pursuing projects such as the Septic Tank Revitalization Program, Vegetation Management using Chinese Grass Carp, and a local improvement district for sewering heavily developed portions of the watershed. Links to these and other projects can be found below.
The connection between Chinese Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Devils Lake goes back to the beginnings of the District. In fact, the District’s first responsibilities were centered on implementing and monitoring the Grass Carp plantings. While other forms of vegetation management have been explored (See Vegetation Management Strategies below) the method of choice for the District has been and continues to be the herbivorous fish, the Chinese Grass Carp. As a result, sterile Grass Carp have been stocked three times in the lake with the initial plantings in 1986 and 1987, and most recently in 1993. Effectively the youngest fish in the lake are now at a minimum of 18 years old Typically these fish live 10-12 years with some known to live as many as 25 years, which is why this issue is again at the forefront of the District.
Since the last stocking however the Wildlife Integrity Rules the state administers have change, and the eligible uses of Grass Carp have become quite limited (See ODFW Brochure). Only waterbodies of less than 10 acres held entirely on private land are now qualified. All water bodies that the Grass Carp are planted in must now be restricted from public access and have no inputs or outputs to other waterbodies with limited exception. This for most practical purposes limits their use to irrigation ditches and small private ponds. Further, public government bodies, such as the Devils Lake Water Improvement District, are forbidden from the application process altogether. The only way of approving the restocking is firstly through a variance of the rules by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission. These are some of the major hurdles that the reintroduction of Grass Carp must thus overcome.
Other regulations will also apply, specifically adherence to the Endangered Species Act as it relates to Oregon Coastal Coho Salmon. The EPA just relisted Coho as "Threatened", and thus their protection will be prioritized by the federal agencies and the state agencies. A few links to those listings by the federal agencies of NOAA-Fisheries (NMFS) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have been provided below.
While vegetation management is an important priority for the District, invasive weeds are only a symptom of a culturally impacted lake. In recognition of this, the District is and will continue to actively seek to reduce nutrients coming into the lake as well as seek to prevent the spread of invasive species. It is with a watershed wide approach then that Grass Carp are being pursued and how they fit into the management strategy for the watershed (See Devils Lake Plan).
Septic Tank Revitalization Program(Initiated Fall 2009)
The Devils Lake watershed has been densely developed in the last 100 years. There are currently over 400 homes within 250 feet of the shoreline. Due to the nature of the development and the landscape the vast majority of these homes utilize onsite waste management systems or septic systems. While under working order, septic tanks are a reasonable tool for treating domestic wastewater that is not however true with failed systems, with systems that are placed in places lacking the right soil conditions, or that are set below the water table. In addition, aging and poorly maintained septic tanks and drain fields can be a major contributor of nutrients in the watershed. While other sources of nutrients exist, this is one item humans (lake residents, property owners and District residents) can have a direct impact on. Identification and revitalization of septic systems thus was established as the number one priority in the Devils Lake Plan in August of 2008.
Key to identifying failing septic systems is conducting inspections. While certain properties going through real estate transactions maybe required to ensure that an adequate septic system exists, many septic tanks have for decades gone without inspection. Voluntary inspections while potentially a preferred method of identify and restoring systems often fails to identify the worst of the failed systems. Being that, a mandatory septic tank inspection requirement is being proposed for properties receiving municipal water.
A Native Planting Guide was developed specifically for Devils Lake. The guide is available for free download through this website. Materials are free to use for everyone, including landscapers, nurseries, homeowners, and watershed councils. We do have a few printed copies for limited distribution as well.
The guide is a great resource for projects large and small and includes plants for planting from the hills to the lake bottom as well as guidance on how to plant them. However, please note that if you are thinking of doing work along the shoreline below the Ordinary High Water Mark (10.4' above Mean Sea Level), you will need the following:
Please also plan on consulting with the Devils Lake Water Improvement District as well. Plenty of details are inside the guide under the heading Environmental Concerns and Requirements.
Considering a shoreline project? There is another reason to contact the District as we may be able to help financially and/or provide some labor as part of the Save our Shorelines Program (SOS).
Save our Shorelines (Initiated January 2010, view staff update here).
A project to assist landowners in increasing the native vegetation on their shoreline as well as other Best Management Practices for living on the water. Seth has been developing the first of what is hope to be a number of Shoreline Restoration Days:
The goal of this project is to encourage homeowners to plant native vegetation in place of having turf grass and rock walls on their shoreline. Native shoreline vegetation offers homeowners many benefits, including low maintenance, reduced shoreline erosion, a beautiful natural landscape, and you will save money since native vegetation does not require fertilizer or additional watering. Restoration projects also benefit the lake by decreasing sediments and other pollutants that enter the lake, including nutrients that promote cyanobacteria. However, please note that if you are thinking of doing work along the shoreline below the Ordinary High Water Mark (10.4' above Mean Sea Level), you will the following from Oregon Department of State Lands:
DLWID is continually looking for homeowners who are interested in doing native shoreline plantings. Ideally we are looking for properties who meet the following criteria:
Own shoreline property on Devils Lake and have at least 300 square feet available for restoration (e.g. 10x30 feet).
Sign an agreement to maintain the newly landscaped area.
Provide some financial assistance, approximately 25% of the total project, not to exceed $200.
Be available to take part in the restoration project.
Don't meet the suggested requirements? Contact us to discuss other possible planting ideas. Below are some examples of shoreline restorations and other valuable information.
To learn more about shoreline restoration or to volunteer for future events, contact Seth Lenaerts at: Seth@DLWID.org or by phone, 541-994-5330.
Water Quality Monitoring
The Devils Lake Water Improvement District conducts routine water quality monitoring during the peak recreational use period on the lake (May- September). Included are Physical and Chemical water quality indicators of Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Electroconductiviity, Turbidity, Secchi Depth. The District also monitors bacteria (E. coli) and cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae). Result are posted on the Water Quality Page and interested parties can sign up for updates through the District's email service.
The Devils Lake Water Improvement District holds a Recreational Water Use Right on Devils Lake. The water impoundment right implemented in in 1997 allows the District to store additional water in the lake year-round, but the water certificate is actually only exercised in the spring to fall months (Generally April 15- October 15).
In 2009 it was deemed by the Oregon Department of Water Resources (WRD), that the District had been exceeding its storage right, and subsequent changes were made in the operation of the small dam at the D River (See WRD Letters below, noting correction in follow up letter). For background on this issue view the April 1, 2009 Staff Presentation and a recent Director's Presentation from April 1, 2010. Recently the District has received information from the Watermaster regarding the conditions of the permit that require the District to maintain the flow out of the lake in the late summer. These conditions are not alterable, and thus a new water right would have to be applied for should the District seek to supplement its existing permits. The letter from the Water Resources Department (WRD) along with some supporting documentation dating back to the original application have been added below.
In the winter months lake level takes a different turn where oceanic sands deposited from storm events routinely clog the D River. DLWID and the City of Lincoln City work cooperatively to have that material dredged out to again allow the free flow of the lake. The District recently solicited bids to conduct that work for the period ending April 30th, 2012. This bid is now closed, but for reference the solicitation is posted here: D River Emergency Dredging RFP
The Devils Lake Water Improvement District was awarded a Non-point Source 319 Grant from DEQ for data management. This project was completed in March 2011. The grant had four major tasks outline below:
Develop Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and associated Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs)
Assess existing data by comparing to the QAPP to determine data quality
The Devils Lake Water Improvement District is now hosting a low powered radio station courtesy Oregon Sea Grant and OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center. This radio station transmitting on 1610 AM from Regatta Grounds Park in Lincoln City can be heard throughout the park and across the lake to East Devils Lake State Park.
Tune in to hear a recorded message about Invasive Species by some of our own Lincoln County School District students. Also be sure to tune in regularly for additional broadcasts. This project was facilitated by the WISE teachers (Watershed and Invasive Species Education) campaign. Special thanks also go to the City of Lincoln City as well for installation and the housing of the station.
The Devils Lake Water Improvement District recently had an erosion study done to determine if and how the lake level impacts erosion on properties surrounding Devils Lake. Fieldwork was conducted in the summer of 2011. Impacts researched included the potential loss of shoreline to inundation, loss or change in plant community along the shore which may lead to erosion or shoreline loss, impacts to wetlands and wetland hydrology, impacts to structures, direct erosion of the shoreline, plus others. Considerations included how wave energy, both natural and anthropogenic, may have an impact on the shoreline as a result of having the lake held at 9.53’ (full exercise of water right), at 9.0’ (partial exercise of water right), and if the lake were to be allowed a natural hydrology without impoundment.
Considerations of potential changes in plant communities were to bear in mind the presence of herbivorous Chinese Grass Carp in the lake, and the potential impact of the tendency of plant distributions to migrate as a result of inundated shorelines in a reservoir hydrology. Additional considerations were to include real and/or likely impacts to the varying soil types that make up the shoreline. These considerations would then include both impacts recorded or expected during summer and wintertime as a result of the summertime impoundment. Full Erosion Study RFP Available Here!
Tetra Tech, Inc.'s report and other files can be downloaded from the links shown above or from the Research Page.
The connection between Chinese Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Devils Lake goes back to the beginnings of the District. In fact, the District’s first responsibilities were centered on implementing and monitoring the Grass Carp plantings. While other forms of vegetation management have been explored (
