IATC Signs Letter Opposing Dam Rebuild in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Middle Fork Valley from the Garfield Ledges Trail

The Issaquah Alps Trails Club with its partners from the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Protection Society, Washington Wild, and many others recently signed onto a letter in response to a request for public comment on the plan to rebuild a dam at Eightmile Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The current plan to rebuild the dam would increase the size of the dam and the amount of water that could be taken out of the ecosystem. This raises several key concerns about the project. 

Violation of Water Extraction Rights

The new proposed height of the dam would increase the amount of water being taken from the lake. According to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Protection Society, “Because IPID has not been taking the amounts of water it claims it has a right to, there is a very good case to be made that IPID has “relinquished” its rights to increased levels of water withdrawal.” This means that with a larger dam, the IPID would be taking more water than they have the right to take out of the lake. The impact that removing that much water would have on the ecosystem has not been addressed.  

Compliance with the Wilderness Act

The 1964 Wilderness Act “ prohibits roads, motor vehicles, motorized equipment, mechanical transport, the landing of aircraft (including the dropping of persons, materials, and supplies from aircraft), and structures and installations within wilderness” with the goal of ensuring that wild spaces remain that way. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness was designated in 1946 after dams had already been built in the region. It is unclear how a larger dam will be constructed without violating the wilderness act given the machinery that is typically required for such a project. 

Fish, Wildlife, and Climate Change Impacts

Given the scale of this project and the large amount of water possibly being removed from the ecosystem, we are requesting that the potential impact on fish and wildlife be fully explored. Climate change is only going to make it more difficult for fish and wildlife to survive dry summers. This complication has also not been addressed in the current plan. 

Water Use for Residential Development

It is currently unclear what the extra water will be used for. The project cites orchard and farm irrigation, but there is also mention of residential development. We are concerned that allowing more water to be taken from the lakes will open up opportunities for residential development that will have a doubly negative effect on the fragile ecosystem of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 

Until these concerns are fully addressed, the Issaquah Alps Trails Club does not support the rebuilding of the Eightmile Lake Dam. 

Learn More: 

https://www.wilderness.org/articles/article/wilderness-act

http://www.alpinelakes.org/newsletters/alpine_2020_01.pdf