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. “Unfortunately, nature has produced an abnormally dry year.”
March 2010 was one of the driest Marches on record ‐‐ about 20 percent below the lowest recorded levels. Cascade’s 2009 agreement with the Lake Tapps Community Council (LTCC) states that Cascade will begin filling the lake in February, aiming for a full lake by April 15. The 2010 refill began on February 15 in coordination with the LTTC and consistent with the White River Agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
Cascade’s refill was proceeding on target until March 17 when the White River flows slowed dramatically. Minimum in‐stream flows allowed for by other agreements were not met by stream flows so there was no water available for diversion into the lake. The refill level of Lake Tapps flattened out at 535.5 feet in mid‐March. Once precipitation began again at the end of March, lake levels rose a foot in a week and are today at 536.5 feet. For the most up to the minute levels, visit the Lake Tapps Recreational Lake Levels page.
“Rest assured that Cascade is committed to full recreational lake levels,” says CEO Chuck Clarke. “Lake Tapps is a wonderful regional asset and we share with you the desire to have it always at its best. As flows in the river get back to normal, the lake will be filled – hopefully no later than early May.”
Cascade Water Alliance is a non‐profit corporation, comprised of the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Tukwila, the Covington Water District and the Sammamish Plateau and Skyway Water and Sewer Districts to provide safe, clean and reliable water to its 370,000 residents and 22,000 businesses. Cascade purchased Lake Tapps from Puget Sound Energy in December 2009.
