Chuck Romeo has a dock on Lake Tapps. And he should be able to keep it under a new policy the Cascade Water Alliance, owner of the East Pierce reservoir, is expected to adopt early next year.
Lakefront residents would have to get permission from Cascade to build new docks or similar structures in the future. The policy is designed to solidify rules governing construction on Cascade’s property.
Romeo, who’s lived on the lake since the 1960s and is president of the Lake Tapps Community Council, said he’s OK with the policy – and he hasn’t heard from neighbors who are opposed.
“They’re well within their rights,” he said of Cascade, which bought the reservoir two years ago.
An open house to answer residents’ questions is set for next month. Cascade’s board is expected to take action on the policy in January or February.
It largely is focused on new construction. Many existing structures, such as docks, may stay as long as they don’t pose dangers to people or hurt the lake.
Some new structures wouldn’t be allowed under the policy, such as fire pits and fences on Cascade’s dikes.
Residents looking to start new projects would have to obtain a free license from the lake owner, along with any applicable permits from Pierce County or other agencies, Cascade said.
Elaine Kraft, spokeswoman for Cascade, said she’s not sure how Puget Sound Energy, the lake’s previous owner, regulated third-party construction on its property.
Putting a policy in writing is the next step in Cascade’s management of the 4.5-square-mile lake, a popular destination for boaters and other recreation users.
“When we first bought the lake, we looked at how it operated and fixed what we need to fix. We’ve also managed water quality,” Kraft said. “Now we’re turning our attention to this. We want to ensure dike integrity and public safety.”
About 1,500 homes are spread around the lake, as well as other buildings and parks. Over the years, people have built structures in the water and on dikes surrounding the reservoir.
More than a dozen dikes contain the lake; many are closed to the public.
Recently, Cascade officials and the City of Bonney Lake developed an agreement allowing the city to use one of them – known as Dike 13 – as part of its Allan Yorke Park.
Lake Tapps was created a century ago for the White River hydroelectric project. The project eventually shut down, and Cascade – a consortium of King County cities and water and sewer districts – bought it in December 2009.
The group plans eventually to use it as a drinking water source.
Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058
sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/street
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