Lake Tapps (Washington)
Encyclopedia
Lake Tapps is a reservoir
in Pierce County, Washington
. It was created in 1911 by Puget Sound Energy
and operated for hydroelectric power until it ceased power production in 2004. In December 2009, PSE sold the lake to the Cascade Water Alliance,http://www.cascadewater.org a nonprofit corporation whose members are five cities (Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila) and three water districts (Covington Water District, Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, and the Skyway Water and Sewer District). It provides water to almost 400,000 residents and more than 22,000 businesses. It plans to eventually use Lake Tapps as a municipal water supply source, but not until at least the 2030s or later.
Cascade has signed an agreement with the Lake Tapps homeowners that guarantees full recreational lake levels throughout the summer. It has also signed an agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to ensure instream flows for fish. The four cities that surround the lake, Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Sumner, worked with Cascade to ensure their future water needs will be met for about the next 50 years. Cascade is now the operator of Lake Tapps.
Lake Tapps is about 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) in surface area and has about 45 miles (72.4 km) of shoreline. The local terrain is such that the shape of the shoreline is very complex, with many inlets, peninsulas, and islands. Before the reservoir was created there were several smaller lakes, including one called Lake Tapps. The reservoir is held in place by a series of dikes. The lake is also known to hold many fish including carp, Smallmouth bass, perch, and tiger musky.
A diversion dam
on the White River
, near Buckley, Washington
, routes water into a flume which empties into the east side of Lake Tapps. On the west side of the lake water had originally been routed to the "Deiringer Powerhouse" to generate hydroelectricity
, after which the water was returned to the White River, about 20 miles (32.2 km) downstream from the diversion dam. Although there will be no power generation, the water will still be diverted and returned to the river. The level of the lake is lowered from October to April for flood control purposes and aquatic plant management, rendering it unusable for recreation half of the year.
At the diversion dam on the White River there is a fish trap, which catch salmon
migrating upstream. The fish are driven by truck and released upriver of Mud Mountain Dam, which blocks salmon migration. This technique is called a "trap and haul system".
Lake Tapps is often considered its own city or census designated place however, the area surrounding the reservoir is part of the city of Bonney Lake, Washington
, which in turn is a separate city from Sumner, Washington
. The city of Auburn
, southern boundary line is within a quarter mile of the lake, and the city has made movements towards eventually annexing North Lake Tapps.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Pierce County, Washington
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
. It was created in 1911 by Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy is Washington state's oldest local energy utility providing electrical power and natural gas in the Puget Sound region of the northwest United States...
and operated for hydroelectric power until it ceased power production in 2004. In December 2009, PSE sold the lake to the Cascade Water Alliance,http://www.cascadewater.org a nonprofit corporation whose members are five cities (Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila) and three water districts (Covington Water District, Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, and the Skyway Water and Sewer District). It provides water to almost 400,000 residents and more than 22,000 businesses. It plans to eventually use Lake Tapps as a municipal water supply source, but not until at least the 2030s or later.
Cascade has signed an agreement with the Lake Tapps homeowners that guarantees full recreational lake levels throughout the summer. It has also signed an agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to ensure instream flows for fish. The four cities that surround the lake, Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Sumner, worked with Cascade to ensure their future water needs will be met for about the next 50 years. Cascade is now the operator of Lake Tapps.
Lake Tapps is about 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) in surface area and has about 45 miles (72.4 km) of shoreline. The local terrain is such that the shape of the shoreline is very complex, with many inlets, peninsulas, and islands. Before the reservoir was created there were several smaller lakes, including one called Lake Tapps. The reservoir is held in place by a series of dikes. The lake is also known to hold many fish including carp, Smallmouth bass, perch, and tiger musky.
A diversion dam
Diversion dam
A diversion dam is the term for a dam that diverts all or a portion of the flow of a river from its natural course. Diversion dams do not generally impound water in a reservoir...
on the White River
White River (Washington)
The White River is a white, glacial river in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows about 75 miles from its source, the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier, to join the Puyallup River at Sumner...
, near Buckley, Washington
Buckley, Washington
Buckley is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,354 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Buckley is located at near the communities of Enumclaw, Bonney Lake, and Wilkeson....
, routes water into a flume which empties into the east side of Lake Tapps. On the west side of the lake water had originally been routed to the "Deiringer Powerhouse" to generate hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, after which the water was returned to the White River, about 20 miles (32.2 km) downstream from the diversion dam. Although there will be no power generation, the water will still be diverted and returned to the river. The level of the lake is lowered from October to April for flood control purposes and aquatic plant management, rendering it unusable for recreation half of the year.
At the diversion dam on the White River there is a fish trap, which catch salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
migrating upstream. The fish are driven by truck and released upriver of Mud Mountain Dam, which blocks salmon migration. This technique is called a "trap and haul system".
Lake Tapps is often considered its own city or census designated place however, the area surrounding the reservoir is part of the city of Bonney Lake, Washington
Bonney Lake, Washington
Bonney Lake is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,374 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonney Lake is located at ....
, which in turn is a separate city from Sumner, Washington
Sumner, Washington
Sumner is a city in northern Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,451 at the 2010 census. Nearby cities include Puyallup to the west, Auburn to the north, and Enumclaw to the east.-History:...
. The city of Auburn
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
, southern boundary line is within a quarter mile of the lake, and the city has made movements towards eventually annexing North Lake Tapps.