Dam Replacement

The US Army Corp of Engineers has depended on the Puget barrier dam near Buckley for fish passage above its Mud Mountain Dam since 1948. The Corps has determined that the existing barrier dam and "trap-and-haul" structure must be replaced in order to provide reliable fish passage in the future. Design is underway for the replacement of the dam. Cascade is monitoring the design effort to ensure that it will not interfere with the ability to divert water into Lake Tapps, either during construction of after completion.

Construction of the replacement dam is currently expected to begin in 2012. Prior to construction Cascade will negotiate the transfer of property necessary for the replacement dam to the Corps.

In 2009 the Corps reported that approximately 540,000 Pink Salmon, over 9,000 Coho Salmon and over 90 Bull Trout were hauled above Mud Mountain Dam.