Riffe Lake is a long reservoir on the Cowlitz River in the U.S. state of Washington. The 23.5 mi (38 km) lake was created by the construction of Mossyrock Dam, the tallest dam in the state,[4] in 1968 by Tacoma City Light (now Tacoma Power).[2]
| Riffe Lake | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Riffe Lake  Riffe Lake | |
| Location | Lewis County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 46°32′4″N 122°25′43″W / 46.53444°N 122.42861°W[1] |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Cowlitz River |
| Primary outflows | Cowlitz River |
| Catchment area | 1,400 sq mi (3,630 km2)[2] |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 23.5 mi (37.8 km)[2] |
| Surface area | 11,830 acres (47.9 km2)[3] |
| Max. depth | 360 feet (110 m) |
| Shore length1 | 52 mi (83.7 km)[2] |
| Surface elevation | 778.5 ft (237 m)[2] |
| References | [1][2][3] |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
History
editThe reservoir was formed behind Mossyrock Dam in the late 1960s and submerged the communities of Kosmos, Nesika, and Riffe; residents of the area were relocated due to the planned inundation.[5] It was originally called Mossyrock Lake, then later named Davisson Lake in 1962 after Ira Davisson, a utilities commissioner in Tacoma.[6] The name was approved by the Tacoma Utilities Board and later the Federal Power Commission.[7] The 1968 state highway map published by the Washington State Department of Highways named it "Riffe Lake" for the inundated community instead of Davisson Lake, which was not officially recorded by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[8] The name was officially changed to Riffe Lake in 1976 after Lewis County residents petitioned the state's Board of Geographical Names to honor a more local figure.[7][9] The change was approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in August of that year.[10]
In 2017, Tacoma Power lowered the maximum water level of the lake by 30 feet (9.1 m) due to concerns that the piers on Mossyrock Dam could fail during a major seismic event and cause catastrophic flooding.[11]
Ecology and environment
editLocated on the eastern shore of the lake is the Kosmos Unit, a part of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area. Also known as Kosmos Flat, the 520-acre (210 ha) site contains a mix of habitats, such as meadow, riparian, and wetland, and is split by Rainey Creek. Parts of the meadow are flooded during peak water levels. The unit contains a small hardwood forest and is known for abundant wildlife, especially various species of birds including pheasants, ospreys, and raptors. Additional sites for birdwatching include Goat Creek Flats and Landers Creek Flats.[12]
Recreation
editThe lake accommodates two parks, Mossyrock Park and Taidnapam Park. Due to the decrease in water levels, the boat launches at both recreation areas have been closed periodically since 2017 and are only reopened when water levels are increased. During this time, the parks underwent recreation improvements with proposals to extend the launches for more consistent accessibility.[13]
The lake contains species of fish including rainbow and brown trout, landlocked coho, bass both large mouth and small mouth, bluegill, crappie, and perch.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Riffe Lake
- ^ a b c d e f Cowlitz River Project Statistics, Tacoma Power
- ^ a b Cowlitz River Project Mossyrock Dam, Tacoma Power
- ^ Vander Stoep, Isabel (December 28, 2022). "Resident, Utility Clash Over Riffe Lake Amplified by Boat Launch Closures Due to Low Water Levels". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ Mittge, Brian (June 12, 2015). "Underwater Towns of the Cowlitz River: A Look Back at Kosmos, Nesika and Riffe". The Chronicle. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ "Mayfield Lake Name Gets Okeh From Tacoma Board". The Daily Chronicle. July 12, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Map eraser poised over name of lake". The News Tribune. March 13, 1976. p. A13. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Riffe Lake' Appears On New Highway Map". The Daily Chronicle. May 7, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Riffe Lake". wdfw.wa.gov. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- ^ "Riffe name official". The Daily Chronicle. August 30, 1976. p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Rubin, Will (May 3, 2019). "Tacoma Power Updates Mossyrock Residents On Riffe Lake Levels". The Chronicle. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ Mohney, Russ (March 12, 2004). "Kosmos Flat not large, but attracts lots of wildlife". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Vander Stoep, Isabel (June 2, 2023). "Riffe Lake Accessibility Still Limited as Boat Launch Opens for Season; Mossyrock Mayor Expresses Frustration". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
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