Community Corner

Bonney Lake Historical Society to Dedicate Marker at Lake Tapps Power House Saturday

Join Cascade Water Alliance and the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society at the Lake Tapps Powerhouse this weekend for the special dedication of a historic placard.

"In response to the ever increasing demand for electrical power in the Seattle-Tacoma region during the early 20th century, a plan was proposed by Pacific Coast Power Company to utilize the natural terrain of the plateau to generate hydroelectric power. In 1910 the "White River Power Project" was launched.  It created a large reservoir by flooding four of the existing lakes, Kirtley, Crawford, Church, and Tapps, to create a much larger Lake Tapps. This flooding was accomplished by building approximately 2.5 miles of earthen dikes which raised the water level by 35 feet, thereby joining the lakes together…"

        - From the plaque on White River/Lake Tapps Historic Marker

Last October, over 500 local residents turned out for a community celebration of , including Lake Tapps and the Powerhouse.

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This Saturday, May 19 at 11 am, a new historic marker will be unveiled marking this significant community resource. Everyone is invited to attend the dedication at 2111 East Valley Highway in Sumner.

This newest marker is the 11th historic marker for the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society (GBLHS). The first 10 markers were created in 2009 in collaboration with the City of Bonney Lake. Funding for this marker was provided by Cascade Water Alliance.

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"The goal of the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society is to promote and preserve the history of the Bonney Lake area. This wouldn't be possible without willing partners like the Cascade Water Alliance, the City of Bonney Lake and Pierce County,"  said to president Dennis Dhaese.

“What we do here today is for our children’s and our community’s tomorrow,” says Lloyd Warren, past chair Cascade Water Alliance.

He adds that the words on the plaque say it all: ‘What was begun over a century ago at Lake Tapps has a new beginning….Cascade’s ownership means a future with sustainable water for people, for fish, for recreation and for generations to come.'

Community member Robyn Sullivan will also be recognized for her rescue of one of the original Lake Tapps Development Company signs, now on the Powerhouse property.

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This is a press release from Cascade Water Alliance.

For more information about the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society and the Historic Marker project visit the City of Bonney Lake’s website:  http://www.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/section_community/community_resources/historical_society.shtml

For more information about Cascade Water Alliance visit www.cascadewater.org


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