Cascade Water Alliance announces second milfoil information meeting
April 21, 2010 |

Lake Tapps Courier Herald
News Article (PDF >)

Cascade Water Alliance next month will host the second in a series of three public meetings to talk about strategies to eradicate milfoil in Lake Tapps. (more…)

Lake Tapps milfoil meeting draws big crowd to North Tapps Middle School
April 8, 2010 |

Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald
News Article (PDF >)

More than 120 Lake Tapps residents packed into the North Tapps Middle School multi-purpose room March 31 to hear Cascade Water Alliance’s plans for helping to rid their lake of eurasian milfoil, an invasive species of plant that is clogging beaches and coves from one end of the lake to the other. (more…)

Lake Tapps Spring Fill Update: Cascade committed to full recreational levels
April 8, 2010 |

Media Release (PDF >)

April 7, 2010, Lake Tapps WA – “Cascade Water Alliance is committed to filling Lake Tapps to full recreational levels,” says Lloyd Warren, Chair of the Cascade Board of Directors. (more…)

Lake Tapps Management Plan, a community partnership
April 5, 2010 |

To ensure that Lake Tapps remains a safe, clean and enjoyable resource well into the future Pierce County, Cascade Water Alliance, the Cities of Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Sumner, and other key governments and jurisdictions who share responsibility for Lake Tapps, began a neutrally-convened public process with the Lake Tapps community in November 2010 to develop a balanced perspective on management of Lake Tapps. (more…)

Healthy landscapes make clean, healthy water
April 5, 2010 |

We all want beautiful landscapes with no weeds or pests but we have to consider that many chemicals used in our landscape are unhealthy for people and pets; are toxic to wildlife, fish and beneficial insects; are damaging to the environment; and end up polluting our lakes and streams. Studies conducted by the US Geological Survey found 39 lawn and garden pesticides in King County streams. Studies also show that pesticides applied to the lawn can be tracked into the home and have been found in carpet dust, window sills and other surfaces.

Spring is here and it’s the perfect time to get our yards off to a great start. Consider doing some of the following in your landscape to keep it healthy:

• Instead of using weed killer, hand-pull or hoe the weeds while they are small and before they go to seed. Spring rains can wash pesticides into streams and lakes where they can harm salmon and other wildlife.
• Incorporate compost into your planting beds. Regardless of what soil type you have – sand or clay – compost can benefit your soil. Besides helping the texture of the soil and helping to neutralize pH, compost also adds nutrients so you don’t need to apply fertilizer.
• Mulch your planting beds with organic mulch such as wood chips. Mulch retains moisture in the soil over the hot summer months, inhibits weed germination and makes it easier to pull the weeds that do grow. Another great benefit of mulch is that as it breaks down over time it adds needed nutrients to your soil.
• If you’re going to fertilize use natural, organic, slow-release fertilizers such as fish fertilizer.

Natural yard care minimizes the use of pesticides, keeping our homes and landscapes healthy, which also maintains a healthy water supply!

For more information on Natural Gardening please visit www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/nw-yard-and-garden.aspx

Mike Brent, Cascade’s Water Resource Manager, shared important information about indoor conservation opportunities and sustainable landscaping with participants at the North King County Green Business Conference, March 23, at Shoreline Community College.