Cascade Water Alliance, in coordination with the Lake Tapps Community Council, will begin actively dropping the water level of Lake Tapps on Nov. 1.

The procedure is part of the reservoir’s annual wintertime drawdown.

Cascade and the community council urge lakeside residents to remove their boats before the drawdown starts to avoid water craft from becoming stranded in shallow, exposed inlets.

Under the collaborative drawdown plan, Cascade intends to lower the reservoir’s water level by about 5 feet, and then consult with the community council on whether to reduce the lake level even farther.

A key goal of the drawdown is to assess the lake and dike condition and remove debris. The annual drawdown also is designed to ensure that waves from severe winter storms do not overtop the reservoir’s dikes.

Refilling of the reservoir is scheduled to begin in February, with the goal of returning the lake to its full, summer recreational level by mid-April. The schedule might be affected by severe winter weather and flood damage to the White River diversion dam near Buckley.

Cascade purchased Lake Tapps from Puget Sound Energy in 2009. PSE had used the lake as a reservoir as it produced hydroelectric powers. Cascade has long-term plans to use the lake for regional municipal water supply and recently was granted water rights from the State Department of Ecology, although Cascade will not use it for many decades.

During the past year, Cascade has worked with the community to address milfoil, efforts to ensure a healthy lake and in supporting community events. Over the next few months, Cascade will work with entities around the lake to address other issues surrounding operations and activities on and around the lake.