EATONVILLE, Wash. — Visitors to parks along Alder Lake near Eatonville are being warned that water levels are much lower than usual for this time of year.
At Alder Lake Park, the water usually covers a large swim area. Today, that area is dry.
Gary Lofton, the assistant park supervisor for Alder Lake Park, says water at the beach would usually be 6 to 8 feet deep this time of year.
"We had a very mild winter so we did not get the snow pack in the mountains to keep the water flowing all summer long," said Lofton.
Tacoma Power runs the parks along Alder Lake which also include Sunny Beach Point and Rocky Point parks.
The drought has not only caused the swim areas to dry up, but it also makes things difficult at the boat launch areas.
"Normally the whole lot would be full with people boating here but you can see very few people," said Mike Taylor, who saw the conditions and decided to launch his boat at another lake.
"It's more difficult to launch the boat and get it out," said Taylor.
Also, due to a statewide burn ban, no wood or charcoal fires are allowed at the campgrounds.
That still hasn't stopped swimmers like Zach Davidson from visiting.
"It's been a dry year. I kind of figured the water level would be down but not down this far," he said.
Lofton doesn't expect a normal water level this summer. He said it's possible the water will return this fall or maybe next spring.