Cascade has been watching the flooding issues very closely, and we are very concerned about what is happening to our neighbors in Pacific.
Cascade’s headworks, where water is diverted from the White River, is not currently operational because it is being rebuilt as part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project. The project is not going to be complete until early in 2026. In the meantime, we are unable to divert water.
We are managing water that is entering the system from rainfall and heavy runoff. The reservoir is normally lower in the winter to protect the dikes from breaching and that is true now as well. Too much water, wind, and wave action have the potential to damage or break the dikes, putting the surrounding communities at risk for severe, emergency flooding. Therefore, we keep the winter reservoir at levels required by the State Dam Safety Office for safety reasons.
For more information about Cascade and Lake Tapps Reservoir visit cascadewater.org.