Submitted by Stan Kovar.
Lakefront owners and lake users are upset by the decline of American Lake water quality and quantity. They are also frustrated that a policy change which would be simple, very beneficial and cost nothing is not being implemented.
There are photographs verifying that at some point after 2012 Pierce County began lowering the elevation of the lake level control dam from 233′ to 231′ around each Labor Day. This is done just before the rainy season when infiltration will peak, thus preventing the lake level from rising to the designed spring elevation of 233′. In 1979 the county signed a 50 year contract with the Army Corps of Engineers assigning the county the responsibility to monitor and maintain the outflow structure. I emphasize monitor and maintain as distinct from operate. I can find no record of the county being given the authority to independently decide the lake height and operate the dam accordingly.
The first picture attached shows the dam as it is currently being operated through the rainy season. It shows that in the spring the lake height is currently being limited to 231′ elevation. Note that this is well below the historical elevation which is evidenced by the concrete stain lines on the structure walls that are at 233.3′. Due to the approximate drop of 3′ each summer, by fall the lake elevation will drop to below 228′…