Joe Mickelson has been named Operations Manager for the Cascade Water Alliance, CEO Chuck Clarke announced Monday, Oct. 12. Mickelson will oversee operations and maintenance of Cascade’s Lake Tapps facilities.

Cascade is a non-profit 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.

The agency serves almost 400,000 residents and more than 22,000 businesses. Members

contribute to the costs of purchasing water, developing water supplies and operating the

systems.

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. He has spent the last 30 years at Seattle Public Utilities, most recently

serving as Water Operations Director. He has also worked on pipeline, watershed and culvert

programs, and has overseen capital programs and operations and maintenance efforts.

“Joe brings a wealth of experience to Cascade,” said Lloyd Warren, chair of Cascade’s board of

directors. “He has a long, successful track record of innovative can-do problem solving at

Seattle and we look forward to having him bring that expertise to Lake Tapps operations and all

of Cascades operations and facilities.”

Mickelson, who will be located in the Lake Tapps area, will also be responsible for directing field

staff to manage assets, facilities and maintenance activities, work with appropriate agencies and

ensure all safety requirements are met.

Mickelson calls the new job “a wonderful opportunity to pass on my knowledge of water supply

infrastructure to Lake Tapps and help Cascade realize its vision and leave a legacy.”

When not working in the water resources field, Mickelson is a boater, as well as the Washington

State Chair of the World Association of Bench Pressers and Dead Lifters. He is the former

world champion in his age and weight class in power lifting.

He will begin his new post November 3.