Joe Mickelson has been named operations manager for the Cascade Water Alliance, chief executive officer Chuck Clarke announced last week. Cascade is a nonprofit corporation comprised of eight municipalities and water districts that joined together in 1999 to provide water supply for current and future needs. It includes the cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Tukwila and the Covington Water District, the Skyway Water and Sewer District and the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District.

Cascade will complete the purchase of Lake Tapps from Puget Sound Energy by the end of the year, and Mickelson will oversee all Lake Tapps and related operations of the lake, which include a powerhouse, eight miles of wood and concrete flumes, pipes, open channels, basis and a fish screen facility.