Lake Tapps (Washington)

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Lake Tapps is a reservoir in Pierce County, Washington. It was created in 1911 and is maintained by Puget Sound Energy. A diversion dam on the White River, near Buckley, Washington, routes water into a flume which empties into the west side of Lake Tapps. On the east side of the lake water is routed to the "Dieringer Powerhouse" to generate hydroelectricity, after which the water is returned to the White River, about 20 miles downstream from the diversion dam.

At the diversion dam on the White River there is a fish trap, which catch salmon migrating upstream. The fish are driven by truck and released upriver of Mud Mountain Dam, which blocks salmon migration. The technique is called a "trap and haul system".

Since the creation of Lake Tapps, housing developments have been built around it. Recently, Puget Sound Energy has considered shutting down the project as unprofitable. Local residents have organized efforts to maintain the lake as it is even if Puget Sound Energy leaves.

Lake Tapps is about 4.5 square miles in surface area and has about 45 miles of shoreline. The local terrain is such that the shape of the shoreline is very complex, with many inlets, peninsulas, and islands. Before the reservoir was created there were several smaller lakes, including one called Lake Tapps. The reservoir is held in place by a series of dikes.