Water managers have begun slowly filling the reservoir at Howard Hanson Dam at the headwaters of the Green River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers slowly begins annual spring fill of the reservoir in late February, allowing water levels to rise within Howard Hanson Dam’s reservoir. The dam helps protect Kent, Auburn, Renton and Tukwila from flooding.
It takes about three months to refill the reservoir, according to a Army Corps media release. The current plan targets a maximum pool elevation of 1,167 feet above sea level. A 1,167 foot elevation pool has been the spring refill target since 2007.
Water stored during the spring refill of the reservoir will be used to provide water supply to the City of Tacoma and its water supply partners. Additionally, at least three-fifths of the reservoir’s supply will be used to augment downstream flows to help endangered species of fish, including Chinook and steelhead. Project managers believe that the regulated downstream flows will aid spawning and other life-cycle events for the fish.
The Corps operates the Howard Hanson Dam project.
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