Dam Maintenance Project

Our 5 year Dam Safety Inspection was performed in Fall 2023 and  the periodic  inspection report by the Dam Safety Office was received in 2025.  There were 5 observations and the overall rating of POOR condition for the dam, in addition to the past observations from 2018  inspection that we are still working on.  In May 2025, a Dam Maintenance plan was developed and agreed upon with Dam Safety and progress is discussed at board meetings.   

The team continues to work on the list of required activities from the 2018 and 2023 Dam Safety Office (DSO) inspection. A lot of headway has been made, vegetation clearing and now maintaining those cleared areas on and around the Dam, canal and weir areas. Installing staff gauges to monitor lake water levels.   We perform an annual owner inspection in the fall and file the report with DSO, along with updates to the Emergency Action Plan and the Operations and Maintenance Plan  every year.   Many discussions have taken place with DSO staff on remediation for the Seismic evaluation as well as the emergency outlet system where preliminary bids for the plan on replacement have been obtained.  DSO has been kept up to date with our progress and the team continues to manage and discuss the activities still needing attention. Board Members are actively pursuing the remaining items. 

In December 2022, we submitted the High Hazard Dam Grant application and it was approved by FEMA in April 2024... Unfortunately, we were unable to accept the grant due to complications with timing  at Snohomish County and their 5 year Hazard Mitigation Plan that we need to be annexed into before funds can be released for the grant.  Fall 2024 we partnered with King County to re-apply for the  FEMA (Federal) 2024 High Hazard Dam  grant.   This application is for the seismic evaluation of the dam and we have identified a local geotechnical contractor to work with once we hear about the grant results. We won't know whether we are awarded the grant until Late Fall 2025.  Any federal grant  will require the community to pay a 35% portion with the federal grant funding at 65% and will help assist paying for the expensive projects ahead. 

We had hoped to  apply for a second FEMA grant for funding assistance to cover the emergency outlet replacement project and the filling of the low spots along the canal. These projects will require us to have several contractor bids  as well as filing for an additional hydraulic permit before we can submit the grant. King County  is willing to partner with us again and we deeply appreciate their assistance.   However, with the current  lack of clarity about the FEMA department and any grant programs, we are not counting on that  grant program being available anymore. 

Andy Quast worked on the grant application, Molly Graham obtained updated bids and helped with grant review, Kacie Ciske handled the hydraulic permits from the Dept of Fish & Wildlife for maintaining the beaver dam in the outlet canal. Tom Morgan and Molly Graham worked on finalizing the vegetation clearing and meeting with various contractors onsite. The initial seismic bids were gathered in 2011 by Arnold Pretz .     All board members are active and the team includes community members George Edwards, Laura Gunion and Doug Linman.  

Contact a board member if you are interested in participating, or would like more details or information about the project. We always need your assistance !