Cascade will begin the fall drawdown on November 1 and will bring the reservoir level down from its current approximately 542.5 feet elevation to approximately 538-539 feet elevation for the fall and winter. This drawdown is necessary for the integrity and maintenance of the dikes and to ensure safety from wind, storm, and wave action during the winter months.
Residents should watch levels and make appropriate decisions regarding watercraft and other property. Cascade recommends that residents remove their boats from the water at the latest by mid-October.
Cascade maintains seasonal recreational water levels between elevation 541.5 feet and 543 feet from April 15 to September 30. The 2023 spring refill is anticipated to begin in mid-February.
If residents are planning work on their property that uses Cascade’s property below the 545 feet elevation line, this is a good time to obtain the appropriate, required permits and a Cascade license prior to beginning any work. Further, residents should keep in mind as they do work on their property, especially bulkheads, that Cascade has the authority to raise reservoir levels to elevation 543 feet under current water rights, so any new or modified bulkheads should be built with the consideration that the reservoir level will be up to 543 feet. Cascade raises the reservoir to 543 feet once a year for a day or so as a reminder of how the reservoir level appears on property around the reservoir.
For more information about Cascade and Lake Tapps visit www.cascadewater.org and for information regarding licenses for project work visit http://cascadewater.org/lake_tapps_licenses_and_permits.php