Cascade Water Alliance and the Lake Tapps Community Council on Thursday announced the winter drawdown schedule for Lake Tapps.

Initially, the lake drawdown will begin in mid to late October, lowering the lake level to approximately 539 feet through December.

Cascade will then draw down Lake Tapps to 530 feet beginning Jan. 2 to accommodate several dike stability issues as well as projects for Pierce County and Bonnie Lake. The reservoir will be down until the fill begins around mid to late February.

Projects expected to be addressed include:

• Support for the integrity of Dikes 3, 4, 11 and 13;

• Inspection of the Island 21 Bridge supports;

• Replacing the Lake Tapps gauge shack piling and decking;

• New pilings at the Pierce County boat dock, and

• Fixing supports for Bonney Lake’s Vandermark Bridge.

In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to award and contract for construction of the Mud Mountain Dam Fish Passage Project in the spring. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2018 and could last up to four years, during which time Cascade will bring the reservoir down to approximately 538 to 539 feet. Residents are urged to take this opportunity to do work on their property during this time, as there will be no further drawdowns for four years.

However, residents who wish to do any work during this draw down period must act now to obtain all the necessary permits from the City of Bonney Lake, Pierce County, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (if appropriate) and get a license from Cascade. These documents must be obtained prior to beginning of construction.

For more information on Cascade’s licenses visit cascadewater.org or email contact@cascadewater.org