Lake Tapps is on its way to reaching a record low level of 505 feet above sea level, and much of the lake bed is starting to show as Cascade Water Alliance continues to empty the lake by a foot of water a day.

Although the lake bed is now accessible, Cascade has said the public is not allowed to traverse the lake bed, either on foot or in a vehicle. “We have had two safe summers without drownings.  This is because the community has worked hard to make the public aware of dangers,” Joe Mickelson, Cascade’s Lake Tapps operation manager said in a release. “This issue is no less dangerous and Cascade will work with the law enforcement officers and Lake Tapps community to keep people out of the lake bed while the lake is down.”

The lake bed may have areas of instability, stumps, protrusions and soft areas where individuals and vehicles might be injured or become stuck. Parents should advise their children to stay out of the lake bed.

In some instances, people stuck on the lake may be able to see East Pierce Fire Department lake locator signs at the end of docks facing the lake bed. The signs, brown with white numbers, will help emergency responders arrive at the scene quickly and pinpoint the location of an emergency.