This map was created by the Coalition to assist people in understanding the key elements of the Lake Tapps system.  This file can be opened in any graphics program.  This map is to scale and shows the location of Mud Mountain Dam, the Diversion Dam, Lake Tapps, the White River, and the Hydroelectric Plant, in relation to the adjoining towns.

In the background of this picture is the diversion dam, which diverts the White River to the flume.  This dam is about xx feet tall and is made of wooden planks.  The dam is designed to break in the event of high water.  Puget Sound Energy maintains the dam, using the wood milled at a dedicated saw mill on site.

This picture, like most on this page, was taken during the tour of the Lake Tapps facility hosted by Puget Sound Energy for the neighbors on Lake Tapps.

There is 8 miles of water flume which carries the water to Lake Tapps from the Buckley Diversion Dam.  Some of the flume is pipe, but the most fascinating part of the flume is the wooden flume structure near the diversion dam.  Visiting this section is like stepping back in history.  The design dates back to the original 1911 design.  The wooden section of the flume is elevated above ground level and Puget Sound Energy has a dedicated saw mill on site to mill the wood for flume maintenance and diversion dam maintenance.

Located at the Buckley Diversion Dam, this trap allows the salmon to migrate beyond the impossible obstacle of Mud Mountain Dam.  A true case of man helping fish.  The fish swim up a small fish ladder located at the diversion dam into the holding bin of the fish trap.  The bin is raised in the air, a truck is driven under the bin, the bin is lowered into the truck and the truck is driven to the eastern side of Mud Mountain Dam, where the fish are released to spawn.  The fish trap is operated by the Corp of Engineers.  The Diversion Dam is a critical part of the successful operation of the fish trap.  So the Diversion Dam, which is operated by Puget Sound Energy, must be in place for the fish trap to work properly.  

The new facility was recently built by Puget Sound Energy to ensure survival of the salmon fingerlings.  The facility is located in Buckley off of the Sumner-Buckley Road.  The water, in route to Lake Tapps, is screened to divert small salmon fingerlings safety back to the White River.  If the fingerlings were to get to Lake Tapps, they would be chewed up in the Hydroelectric Plant as the water flows through the plant generators.  The multimillion dollar fish screen is a unique design, believed to be the first in the world.  There is a 100% survival rate for the salmon fingerlings because of this facility.

Located on East Valley Highway, the plant is the reason for Lake Tapps.  Puget Sound Energy created Lake Tapps for the hydroelectric power gained by allowing the lake water to flow out and drop the 500 feet in elevation through the four generators located in this plant.  This plant is operated 24 hours a day by Puget Sound Energy.