Meeting planned on lake cleanup

Thu., Sept. 7, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

A plan is under way to clean up phosphorous in Newman Lake, and even lakeshore home restrictions are on the table.

Phosphorous, which promotes algae growth and leads to oxygen shortages in the water, has been traced to various sources around the lake, including streams feeding Newman and – to a lesser degree – home septic systems in the area, according to a state phosphorous report.

The Department of Ecology hopes to reduce the amount of phosphorous to 20 micrograms per liter of water, a goal that will mean trying to restrict phosphorous caused by humans.

Ecologists will meet with Newman Lake residents to discuss the matter at 6 p.m. today in the Tri-Community Grange Hall, at the intersection of Starr Road and Heather Lane. The two-hour meeting will focus on possible cleanup strategies.

The Department of Ecology is also accepting written public comments on their draft report on the total maximum daily load of phosphorous in Newman Lake.

Comments can be mailed to Ecologist Ken Merrill by e-mail at kmer461@ecy.wa.gov or mailed to Merrill at 4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane, WA 99205.

Copies of the report are available online at www.ecy. 0wa.gov/pubs/0610045.pdf. For a written copy, call (509) 329-3515.

– Tom Lutey

District 13 hires new fire chief

After almost a year without a chief, Spokane County Fire District No. 13 has hired a new leader for Newman Lake’s volunteer fire department.

Rick Cokley will start work as the new fire chief this month, according to a release from the department.

He was one of more than 20 applicants reviewed for the position, said board member Robert Neu.

For the last 16 years Cokley was the fire chief in San Juan Bautista, Calif., a city of about 1,700 in San Benito County south of San Francisco.

Before that, he spent 14 years with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Newman Lake residents can meet him at the annual Newman Lake Barn Dance Sept. 16.

Bob Kolva’s resignation as fire chief was announced last December.

– Peter Barnes

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