Lake Sawyer Advocacy Group

12/11/2025

12/11/2025

We are looking at every potential water source to find comprehensive solutions to our low water levels on Lake Sawyer during the summer. I took a hike out to the Ravensdale Creek footbridge today to see how blockages are impacting flow and causing upstream creek expansion and flooding. 

A potential solution for increasing flow from Ravensdale Lake, which maintained its high water level all summer long and feeds Lake Sawyer, is to mitigate blockages on Ravensdale Creek, providing more flow to Lake Sawyer in late summer. This solution would also create more space to handle flood waters in circumstances such as the ones we are experiencing this week. 

12/11/2025

On Monday afternoon it was still 1.5” below the weir.

Now + 5.9”. Its come up just under 7.5” in 48 hours.

12/04/2025

We recommend that people and pets stay out of the lake until we get the algae tests back. Thanks

Toxic Algae Alert
Suspected toxic algae has been reported in several areas around the lake. The Department of Ecology has been contacted and will conduct testing early next week. Based on photos, they believe it may be a toxic bloom.

Until we have confirmation, please keep pets out of the water and use caution around the lake. Stay safe, everyone.

11/07/2025

New Data for 2025 is just as alarming as we knew it would be. Something is going on here.

10/23/2025

LSAG Progress Update: Productive Meeting with Covington Water District 10/21/2025

Yesterday morning, Lauren, Jac, and Grifan met with Covington Water District’s Board President, Alan Eades, and General Manager, Tom Keown for the second time this fall. The meeting was constructive, and we’re encouraged by the direction of the conversation — though there’s still a long road ahead.

Key takeaways:

1. LSAG and CWD will co-author a letter to the Department of Ecology requesting an updated hydrogeological study of the 222nd Street wellfield. We’ll draft the first version and propose a joint work session with CWD, the City of Black Diamond, Reagan Dunn, and other stakeholders.

2. CWD expects a cost and volume analysis from Tacoma Water early next year, with the hope that the CWD can buy more water from Tacoma and pump less from the 222nd St well during the summer. They’ve committed to including LSAG in those discussions. The availability of this option will depend on snowpack and rainfall conditions.

3. The sale of water to District #111 (Lake Meridian) is on their radar — CWD shared that selling water to District #111 was a financial move — but they didn’t anticipate the long-term impact. We’re encouraged to see the board starting to take a closer look at stewardship and resale pricing of water.

4. CWD continues to advocate for the Howard Hanson Dam project to improve long-term water security, which remains tied to downstream fish passage requirements. Senator Patty Murray will be key for securing federal funding for that much needed water storage project.

There’s more work to do, but we’re moving in the right direction.

10/22/2025

Lake Resident Matthew Bond put together a short video about the Lake Sawyer water level situation. Take a look!

Lake Sawyer: The Disappearing WaterOver the past decade, Lake Sawyer in Black Diamond, Washington has seen its water levels drop dramatically — transforming ...

10/21/2025

We are lucky to have two great candidates on the ballot for Covington Water District Commissioner this November. Please be sure to vote for Kevin Broom for Position 2 and Pete Hackett for Position 5, and submit your ballot early!

10/08/2025

All time low! The Lake Sawyer Weir is at -40.1

2015 was -39.06 when CWD has an emergency tie-in and started selling water to the Kent Meridian District.

10/04/2025

This seems adverse…

WAC 173-509-050:
"Future groundwater withdrawal permits will not be affected by this chapter unless such withdrawal would clearly have an adverse impact upon the surface water system contrary to the intent and objectives of this chapter."

09/29/2025

Lake residents are thrilled to look outside this morning and see rain coming down. Our county has experienced severe to extreme drought this summer.

It stands to reason that this contributes to the low water levels in the lake. If rainfall and creek inflows are reduced, while CWD continues pumping water from the aquifer that Lake Sawyer recharges, the lake will inevitably drop.

As we experience changes in climate from year to year, the stewardship of the water needs to be agile.

Covington Water District needs to connect the dots and adjust the amount they're pumping from the 222nd ST Well especially when we are facing a statewide drought and water levels are drastically low.

We need support from the Department of Ecology to understand how these low water levels increase water temperatures, excessive plant growth, and the decreased the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. These conditions impair the habitat for cold-water aquatic species, especially salmon.

It will take many months of sustained rainfall for the lake level to rise enough to flow down Covington Creek and into salmon habitat. Under normal conditions, the Lake Sawyer weir would begin flowing with even modest additional rainfall during salmon migration and spawning season.

Washington Department of Ecology Washington State Department of Natural Resources

09/29/2025

The algae has arrived. We’re hopefully able to test today.