The Cascade Board of Directors formally adopted the Lake Tapps Reservoir Property Management Policy at its Feb. 22 Board meeting. The policy addresses use of its property by third parties around the reservoir.

The policy states that any new improvements or modifications on Cascade property will require a license from Cascade, as well as the appropriate permits from state and local jurisdictions as required.

Existing structures or facilities on Cascade property may be “grandfathered” if Cascade determines that they do not pose an adverse impact on the operations of the Reservoir, or pose a danger to public health or safety.

“Our goal is to keep the property free of obstructions and unauthorized structures to ensure dike integrity, water quality, public safety and use are not compromised,” said John Marchione, chair of the Cascade Board of Directors.

More than 100 Lake Tapps area residents attended a Jan. 12 open house and workshop to learn more about the proposed policy. Cascade received no formal objections to the policy.

Since December of 2009, Cascade has owned and operated the White River Lake Tapps Reservoir Project (Project) and lake, up to its property boundary line delineated by the 545-foot elevation and including the dikes.

As the project’s owner, Cascade’s primary function is to ensure the safety and viability of the Lake Tapps Reservoir for long-term municipal water supply purposes, while managing authorized public access to the lake. For the past two years, Cascade has been working in, on and around the project to determine function and system improvements necessary for long-term maintenance.

During this period, Cascade also has been engaged in a real estate/asset management assessment of the Lake Tapps Reservoir. Several issues have come to light that must be addressed in order to ensure long-term dike integrity, safe recreational use, water quality, general legal and financial risk management, and preservation of Cascade’s property.

To address these issues, Cascade developed the Lake Tapps Reservoir Property Management Policy containing requirements that affect existing and new homeowner improvements on Cascade’s property in and around the lake.

For more information, visit www.cascadewater.org.

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ALSO: Cascade will begin the spring refill of Lake Tapps as early as March 12 with the goal of having the lake completely filled by April 15. Cascade will be doing operational tests on the fish screen facilities and residents should expect to see the lake rise as much as one foot per day during this period.