The Oldest Man-Made Lake in Washington Is Still Going 100+ Years Later

The state of Washington is home to the third-deepest lake in the country (Lake Chelan), three orca families in the Pacific Ocean, and a national park that dates back to the end of the 19th century (Mount Ranier NP). Named for the first U.S. president, Washington is the 18th largest state and was admitted to the Union in 1889. More than 90 million tourists visit the state annually to visit its national parks, amusement parks, museums, and restaurants.

Washington’s natural and man-made lakes invite residents and visitors alike to recreate on their waters and along the shores year-round. There’s much to do, such as fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. There’s also much to learn. The man-made lakes in Washington date back more than 100 years, but do you know the oldest one? Dating back to 1909, the oldest man-made lake in Washington is Lake Tapps. Discover more about this old reservoir below.

Lake Tapps

Lake Tapps is one of the most popular locations for water activities, including boating and kayaking. Originally created by Puget Sound Power & Light, multiple neighborhoods share access privately within the community. The only way to get general access to the lake is by using the northeast shore, which features a boat ramp to traverse the 2,433-acre lake. Locals can also visit the North Lake Tapps Park or Allan Yorke Park for water access to the man-made lake with a 45-mile shoreline with many inlets and peninsulas.

The original purpose of the lake was to harness hydroelectric power, diverting the White River flow as part of the White River Project (1909-1911). When Puget Sound Power & Light stopped power production in 2004, it sold Lake Tapps five years later to the Cascade Water Alliance, which seeks “to provide water supply to meet current and future needs of our members in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner through partnerships, water efficiency programs, acquiring, constructing and managing water supply infrastructure[,] and fostering regional water planning.”

Nowadays, this lake is known for its year-round fishing opportunities, enticing anglers with the hope of catching crappies, perch, and muskies. The northeast shore has a boat ramp for anyone who wants to journey to the center of the lake with their gear. If you decide to take a trip to the North Lake Tapps County Park, your view of Mount Rainier is unlike any other.

Where Is Lake Tapps: A Map

Lake Tapps is part of Pierce County. With the unique path of inlets, islands, and peninsulas, the lake is east of Tacoma and west of Enumclaw. It covers about 4.5 square miles, receiving water from the White River via flume.

Pierce County: The Home of Lake Tapps

In Pierce County, Lake Tapps is just one of over 180 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. With 23 cities within the county’s limits, there are 925,708 residents living there now. The only Washington county with a greater population than Pierce County is King County, which encompasses Seattle and has 2.2 million residents.

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Lake Tapps is Mount Rainier, a volcano and the tallest mountain of the Cascades. While it hasn’t erupted since the middle of the 19^th century, geologists believe it will erupt again at some point. Lake Tapps is one of the most prominent reservoirs locally, but Pierce County also has several arts organizations to attract tourists.

Fish in Lake Tapps

Tiger Muskellunge

Tiger muskellunges are carnivorous fish that live in the northern United States in freshwater sources. They prefer quiet rivers and still water, including the Great Lakes. Washington is one of many states that stock tiger muskies. However, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife requires any catch under 50 inches to be released back into the lake.

Water temperature and availability of food play a role in how quickly tiger muskies grow. When temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the likelihood of cannibalism rises. Their cylindrical body can exceed 45 inches in length, depending on their environment. The oldest man-made lake in Washington is one of only seven lakes that these fish live in.  

Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

Washington state has two species of black bass—smallmouth and largemouth—in its waters, including Lake Tapps. As their names suggest, these two fish are distinguishable by their mouths. The largemouth’s upper lip (maxillary) extends fully past its eye whereas the maxillary on the smallmouth bass only reaches the middle of its eye. Largemouth bass are far more widely distributed and popular in the state, although the smallmouth bass’ popularity is growing steadily. Largemouth bass are greenish-black in color, feature a singular longitudinal stripe running the length of their body, and grow to 12-15 inches.

Smallmouth bass are mottled with dark vertical bars, tend to be a brownish-green color, and on average grow 12-16 inches. The fish’s growing popularity may be attributed to this description from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife: “Although smallmouth bass make excellent table fare, most anglers in Washington pursue smallmouth bass for sport. Experienced bass anglers agree that pound-for-pound[,] smallmouth bass are stronger and more acrobatic fighters than most freshwater sport fish.”

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch prefer slow rivers and streams or still bodies of water, making Lake Tapps an ideal home. At on average 4-10 inches long, these small fish are easy to identify by their separate dorsal fins, compressed golden body, and six to eight broad, dark vertical bands on their sides. As a sport fish, they are an easy but unique challenge for any type of angler, and their mild flavor makes them an ideal fish to harvest commercially.

Black Crappie

Another fish in Lake Tapps is the black crappie, measuring about 4-8 inches long at its adult size (though the biggest ever caught was 19.3 inches). It prefers to live in lakes, reservoirs, and other areas with relatively calm waters. They are easy to catch with a minnow rig or small jig. Since they aren’t listed with the IUCN as an at-risk species, anglers can freely fish for them with fewer restrictions than other species in the lake.

Honorable Mention

While some may suggest that Lake Sylvia is older than Lake Tapps, technically they are right and wrong. They are correct to say that the modern lake got its “official” start in 1909 when Puget Sound Power and Light put in a hydroelectric generation station, but this station was placed on the existing natural lake. Nine years later, the dam was constructed, which raised the lake 16 feet and extended the lake farther up the valley.