The northeast end of Riffe Lake near the Kosmos Boat launch is seen on Feb. 17, 2017. Under Tacoma Power's new plan, Riffe Lake will only rise four feet above its typical winter level seen here from east end of the lake. The drawdown will be a 30-foot reduction of historic summer lake levels.
Amid ongoing community concern about water levels at Riffe Lake, Tacoma Power has planned a public meeting for Thursday evening to provide information and answer questions.
“The purpose of the meeting is just to let everyone know where things are at with Riffe Lake,” said community relations specialist Monika Sundbaum. “People have had a lot of questions about why it’s been so low, so we wanted to explain the weather conditions and energy conditions.”
The utility operates the Mossyrock Dam on the Cowlitz River that created the 23-mile Riffe Lake. Tacoma Power’s hydroelectric dams in Lewis County provide much of the city’s energy. In 2017, the utility determined it needed to lower water levels in the lake, citing concerns that an earthquake could compromise the spillways and cause flooding downstream.
That decision has not been well-received locally, as the lake receded away from traditional access spots for boaters and swimmers, dried up fishing holes and exposed debris like stumps and rocks. The meeting is scheduled to run from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Mossyrock Community Center. Tacoma Power is asking people to RSVP by emailing cowlitz@cityoftacoma.org.
County commissioner Gary Stamper, who plans to attend the Thursday meeting, said he wants to hear a long-term proposal for either restoring the lake level or the recreation opportunities that have been displaced.
“Is there a plan?” he said. “What’s your plan moving forward? You’ve had almost two years now to sit on this and figure out what you’re going to do.”
According to the utility, it’s been working on a long-term plan to address those concerns, following much inquiry from the community. Still, it has acknowledged that lake levels are unlikely to change for the foreseeable future.
“There’s a whole long process,” Sundbaum said. “We’ll have it outlined, the main steps that are going to happen over the next years.”
More specifically, Tacoma Power wants to explain to the community why lake levels have been particularly low this spring. Extremely cold weather in February increased electrical demand as residents turned up their heat, forcing the utility to run more water through the turbines to meet the need. Then, an abnormally dry March failed to replenish the lake of the water that had been drained the month before.
“It was the perfect storm of weird weather, and more weird weather,” Sundbaum said. “This year was so unusual that we wanted to make sure we could get together with the community. We need to address this and help people understand that this is a weather-related challenge this year.”
Thankfully, a wetter April has brought the lake back up somewhat, and the utility was given approval earlier this month to reduce the flow of water through the dam. Last Friday, levels became high enough to open the Mossyrock Park boat launch.
As the lake continues to rise, Tacoma Power will be able to open the Taidnapam North boat launch and the Mossyrock Park swim area.
“We’re hopeful we’re going to get there pretty soon,” Sundbaum said. “We’re hopeful that all those things will be open by recreation season.”
In addition, Tacoma Power has extended its trail network on Peterman Hill and opened a new reservation system for parks on its website.
For his part, Stamper wants the utility to understand that its decisions on lake levels have a huge impact locally, especially on the tourism sector in East Lewis County.
“That lake level does impact the economics of small communities, especially Mossyrock as much as any,” he said. “I’m hoping that they have some good information. Last year, I don’t think the parks were impacted. … This year, with everyone now knowing the lake levels (are lower), is that going to not be the case?”
Sundbaum said Tacoma Power understands that concern, but needs to prioritize risk — and clear up some misconceptions.
“We’re trying to do what we can do, but public safety is our No. 1 concern,” she said. “There’s been a rumor going around that there’s a big crack in the dam and that’s why we’re keeping it low, and that’s not true.”
