Cascade Water Alliance is inviting the public to a May 22 community meeting to learn about the public SwimSafe campaign for recreational water safety. The meeting will take place 6 p.m. at North Tapps Middle School.

Cascade is joined in sponsoring the meeting by the city of Bonney Lake, Pierce County, East Pierce Fire and Rescue, the Bonney Lake Police Department, and the Sumner and Dieringer school districts.

Public agencies surrounding Lake Tapps have ramped up their water safety initiatives in anticipation of the 2013 warm weather season. The summer of 2012 tied 2010 for deadliest summer on Tapps, following three drownings that occurred in the two-month period from June to August.

This year, Bonney Lake police and East Pierce Fire and Rescue expanded their water safety education campaign to every elementary school in the Sumner and Dieringer school districts, with possible plans to appear at middle and high schools. The fire department has likewise stepped up its program to sell properly fitted life jackets at cost.

“We remember all of those who died tragically over the years at Lake Tapps,” County Councilman Dan Roach said in a Cascade Water Alliance press release. “Unfortunately, it is a rare occurrence for a year to go by without at least one drowning at the lake.”

North Tapps Middle School is located at 20029 12th St. E. in Lake Tapps.