Lake Tapps Public Water Supply Project

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) developed a draft report of exam for a Lake Tapps Public Water Supply Project in 2006 for public comment. The proposed project is to help supply the long-range municipal water needs of the Central Puget Sound region, protect salmon and improve water quality, and assist ongoing efforts to preserve Lake Tapps. Ecology anticipates that it will issue a revised draft report of examination in 2009.

If the water supply project proposal is ultimately finalized and approved, Ecology will issue three interrelated water rights and one water right change to Cascade Water Alliance (Cascade). Under these rights, Cascade would store water in the Lake Tapps Reservoir, divert water from the White River into Lake Tapps to supply water for the Water Supply Project, and withdraw water from Lake Tapps for municipal water supply purposes. The water rights change that would be issued with these water rights would confirm that the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) hydropower claim could be used for purposes in addition to hydropower generation, such as recreation, enhancement of fish and wildlife, maintaining water quality and other regulatory purposes. As currently proposed, the 50 plus year project would give Cascade new authority to take an average of 64.6 million gallons of lake water a day for public use.

The Cascade Water Alliance is a coalition including the Cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila, the Covington Water District, the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, and Skyway Water and Sewer District. Cascade has executed an agreement to purchase the water rights and all other assets necessary to operate the White River/Lake Tapps Project from PSE. Cascade will construct the necessary water treatment and delivery systems to get water from the lake to its members.

The arrangement will help PSE offset the cost of cessation of its 1912 White River hydroelectric project, which created Lake Tapps. PSE stopped hydropower operation in 2004 because of the costs of project operation associated with a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hydropower license.

In 1980, Ecology adopted a rule that closed the White River to new water-right allocations. Therefore, Cascade has to demonstrate that the Lake Tapps water-supply proposal will significantly benefit the environment and the public. To satisfy this requirement, the water rights package that Ecology would approve must:

Increase the minimum instream flows in the White River to improve water quality and enhance salmon habitat.
Set aside streamside or adjacent lands in the White River watershed to support salmon and other wildlife.
Cascade has developed mitigation strategies and agreement to ensure White River flows and lake levels are protected and enhanced with feedback from Tribes, the Lake Tapps Community Pierce County, nearby cities and others. Cascade is also developing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project. The projected completion date of the mitigation strategy and EIS is August 2009. Ecology should then be able make a decision on the water rights for the project by the end of 2009.

Informal Report of Examination Review Process
On September 25, 2006, Ecology posted the draft Lake Tapps Public Water Supply Project report of exam on this Web site for an informal 45 business-day review period. Though this review was not required by law, there is considerable interest in this project.

Draft Lake Tapps Water Supply Project Report of Examination
Pages that have project description maps from Report of Examination:
Lake Tapps Project Area – Figure 1
Lake Tapps Reservoir Schematic – Figure 3
Comments and Suggestions Received During the 45 day Informal Review Period
King County
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
City of Kent Public Works Department
City of Auburn
Pierce County
Lake Tapps Task Force
Cascade Water Alliance’s letter and related documents
Cedar River Water and Sewer District
Fall City Water District
Shoreline Water District
Lake Tapps Community Council
Citizens for Clean Drinking Water – Signature Forms
On-line Form Comments
Ralph Mason
Bartley Madison
Carolyn Clark
Puget Sound Energy
Puyallup Tribe of Indians – Adaptive Management Flow Proposal
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, in its negotiations with Puget Sound Energy, Cascade Water Alliance and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, has proposed the an Adaptive Management Plan to be incorporated into the Draft ROE. That proposal is being currently under consideration by Ecology and Pierce County.”

Puyallup Tribe of Indians Adaptive Management Flow Proposal

Related Information Sources – Lake Level
USGS Lake Tapps near Sumner, WA – water surface elevation and reservoir storage

Lake Tapps Community Council

Save Lake Tapps – September 30, 2008: Annual drawdown of Lake Tapps’ water level to commence on or after Nov 1, 2008

Information on Water Rights in Washington from the Department of Ecology.

Contacts
Lake Tapps Water Supply Project
Report of Exam
Tom Loranger
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
E-mail tlor461@ecy.wa.gov
Phone 360 407-6058
Website

Chris Anderson
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
E-mail cand461@ecy.wa.gov
Phone 360 407-6634

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed