March was one of the driest months on record – about 20 percent below the lowest recorded levels of rainfall.
Still, Cascade Water Alliance intends to meet its committment to fill Lake Tapps, per its 2009 agreement with the Lake Tapps Community Council that directs it to begin filling the lake in February, aiming to complete the job by April 15.
This week CWA moved the fill date to early May.
“Cascade Water Alliance is committed to filling Lake Tapps to full recreational levels,” said Lloyd Warren, chair of the Cascade Board of Directors. “Unfortunately, nature has produced an abnormally dry year.”
“Rest assured that Cascade is committed to full recreational lake levels,” said Chuck Clarke, CWA’s chief executive officer. “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.”
The 2010 refill began Feb. 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. Stream flows did not meet minimum in‐stream flows allowed for by other agreements, so no water was available for diversion into the lake. The refill level of Lake Tapps flattened out at 535.5 feet in mid‐March. Once rainfall began again at the end of March, lake levels rose a foot in a week and are today at 536.5 feet.
Cascade Water Alliance is a non‐profit corporation made up of the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Tukwila, the Covington Water District, the Sammamish Plateau and the Skyway Water and Sewer Districts. Its stated purpose is 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.
To find out more about Cascade Water Alliance and the most up to the minute levels, visit www.cascadewater.org.
