In a sure sign that autumn is upon us, Cascade Water Alliance will begin draining the water from Lake Tapps next month.

Cascade, in coordination with the Lake Tapps Community Council, will begin actively dropping the water level of Lake Tapps beginning Nov. 1 as part of the reservoir’s annual wintertime drawdown.

Cascade and the Community Council urge lakeside residents to remove their boats before the drawdown starts to avoid water craft from becoming stranded in shallow, exposed inlets.

Under the collaborative drawdown plan, Cascade intends to lower the reservoir’s water level by about five feet, and then consult with the community council on whether to reduce the lake level even further.

A key goal of the drawdown is to assess the lake and dike condition and remove debris. The annual drawdown is also designed to ensure that waves from severe winter storms do not overtop the reservoir’s dikes.

Refilling of the reservoir is scheduled to begin in February 2011 with the goal of returning the lake to its full, summer recreational level by mid-April.

This schedule may be affected by severe winter weather and flood damage to the White River diversion dam near Buckley.

Officials for Cascade said earlier this year that it will not bring lake levels as low as last winter, making the refilling a little easier next spring.

This year, dry weather lower-than-normal lake levels through the winter contributed to a delay in bringing Lake Tapps to recreation levels this summer.

Cascade purchased Lake Tapps from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) in 2009. PSE used the lake as a reservoir as it produced hydroelectric powers. Cascade has long term plans to use the lake for regional municipal water supply and recently was granted water rights from the State Department of Ecology, although Cascade will not use it for many decades.

During the past year, Cascade has worked with the community to address milfoil, efforts to ensure a healthy lake and in supporting community events.

Over the next few months, Cascade will work with entities around the lake to address other issues surrounding operations and activities on and around the lake.