Tapps Lake Dike No 5 dam
Tapps Lake Dike No 5
Tapps Lake Dike No 5, located in Pierce County, Washington, was completed in 1911 and serves as a crucial structure for recreational purposes in the area. This Earth-type dam, with a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a length of 500 feet, diverts water from the White River to create a surface area of 2570 acres. With a maximum storage capacity of 40,000 acre-feet and a normal storage of 38,000 acre-feet, the dam ensures a steady water supply for the surrounding region.
Managed by a Public Utility, the dam is under the jurisdiction of the Washington Department of Ecology and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment in 2018 deemed it satisfactory, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years. While no spillway type or outlet gates are specified, the dam's associated structures are noted as zero, indicating a standalone structure dedicated to water diversion and recreational activities.
Congressional District 08's representative, Kim Schrier, oversees this crucial piece of infrastructure that plays a pivotal role in water management and recreational activities in the Auburn area. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find interest in the historical significance and environmental impact of Tapps Lake Dike No 5, as well as the ongoing efforts to maintain its safety and functionality for the benefit of the community.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Tapps Lake Dike No 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Tapps Diversion At Dieringer | 26 cfs | → |
| Puyallup River At Alderton | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Big Soos Creek Above Hatchery Near Auburn | 80 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Auburn | 740 cfs | → |
| Newaukum Creek Near Black Diamond | 38 cfs | → |
| Puyallup River At Puyallup | 2,780 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tapps Lake Dike No 5.
Boat launches
- Allan Yorke Park
- Southeast Green Valley Road 12507-12565, Auburn
- Riverside Park Hand Boat Launch
- North Lake Fishing Access Federal Way
- 148th Avenue Southeast Kent
- Southeast 296th Street 22601, Black Diamond
Campgrounds
- Sunset Lake Camp
- Dash Point Campground
- Dash Point State Park
- Kanaskat Palmer Recreation Area
- Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Campground
- Point Robinson Campground
Paddle runs
- Huckleberry Creek To Confluence With Clearwater River
- Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Headwaters On The Nw Slope Of Mount Rainier At Carbon Glacier To Confluence With Ipsut Creek
Track Tapps Lake Dike No 5 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Tapps Lake Dike No 5
Where does the data for Tapps Lake Dike No 5 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Tapps Lake Dike No 5.