Tapps Lake Dike No 1 dam
Tapps Lake Dike No 1
Tapps Lake Dike No 1, located in Pierce County, Washington, is a crucial structure designed for recreation purposes. Built in 1911, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 9 feet, with a length spanning 280 feet. The dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 22,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2570 acres, making it a significant water resource in the region.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Tapps Lake Dike No 1 is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. With a satisfactory condition assessment as of February 2018, the dam poses a high hazard potential and requires regular inspections every 5 years. In case of emergencies, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, highlighting the importance of proactive risk management measures for this critical infrastructure.
As part of the diversion from the White River, Tapps Lake Dike No 1 plays a vital role in water resource management in the area, supplying water for various recreational activities. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a key element in the regional water infrastructure, highlighting the intersection of water resources and climate resilience in the Pacific Northwest.
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 1 -- 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 1.
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
- King County
Campgrounds
- Dash Point Campground
- Dash Point State Park
- Sunset Lake Camp
- Point Robinson Campground
- Kanaskat Palmer Recreation Area
- Kanaskat-Palmer State Park 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 1 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 1
Where does the data for Tapps Lake Dike No 1 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 1.