Upper Cedar River Watershed Topography-Where Seattle Gets its Water!

This video features a 360-degree topographic perspective of the Upper Cedar River Watershed--used by Seattle, in Western Washington State, USA. This includes parts of the western Cascade foothills near Rattlesnake Lake, Rattlesnake Ridge, and Chester Morse Lake. This video is meant as a visual reference to key topographic sites in the area. General information about local glacial history, and groundwater, are discussed in the video. The abandoned town area that was once located at today's Rattlesnake Lake, was called Moncton. For more historical information about the flooding in this area, use these links: A) www.historylink.org/File/2436 and B) mtsgreenway.org/blog/the-town....
The 45-mile long (72 kilometer) Cedar River, is part of the greater Lake Washington hydrologic area--which covers a 706 square mile area (1,828 square kilometers) in Western Washington State. The Cedar River watershed provides about two-thirds of the water for 1.5 million people in the Seattle and surrounding areas, Washington State (note: Seattle's population is 734,000). The watershed area associated with Seattle's municipal system covers an area of 90,638 acres (366 square kilometers).
The Cedar River watershed begins at the crest of the Cascade Range mountains, and flows to sea level at Puget Sound, in Seattle, Washington. Meadow Mountain is the highest elevation in the watershed, with an elevation of 5,414 feet (1,650 meters). Average precipitation in the upper watershed area is roughly 100- to- 200 inches per year (254- to- 500 centimeters). The main reservoir for the upper watershed, is Chester Morse Lake. Originally a wood crib dam was installed to enlarge the reservoir (c. 1904). However, the Masonry Dam (c. 1914) now controls the reservoir. It is used for flood control and hydropower.
Links related to the Upper Cedar River Watershed: Note: no pass is required to enter the park at Rattlesnake Lake and the Cedar River Watershed Education Center. However, parking may be limited during the summer tourist season. Note that access to most of the watershed above Rattlesnake Lake is restricted, although guided tours are periodically available.
--A) Cedar River Watershed Education Center, North Bend area, Washington: www.seattle.gov/utilities/pro...
--B) Rattlesnake Lake park information, and nearby hiking links: www.seattle.gov/utilities/pro...
--C) Rattlesnake Ledge hiking information. Note that the trail often has several hundred people during the summer season. During the winter the trail may be icy--bring microspikes crampons: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/r...
Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude! This 360-degree map is a portable reference to the Upper Cedar River Watershed area. Please don’t rely on this map as a source for travel/orienteering.
Don’t forget that Geology isn't rocket science--it's Rock Science! Please "like" and subscribe to this CZcams channel!
Maps/resources used in this video:
A) The artistic model used to make this 360-degree video is located at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center, North Bend area, Washington (see link above). Photography was taken with permission. Note that this visitor center typically is open on weekends, and some weekdays (depending on the season).
Other information links:
--Seattle Watershed History: www.seattlechannel.org/misc-v...
--Glacial Geology of the Snoqualmie-Cedar Area: www.jstor.org/stable/30069331
--Cedar River Forest Management Plan: www.seattle.gov/documents/Dep...
Video chapters:
0:00-0:41: Introduction with first 360-degree view (wide-perspective) of the Upper Cedar River watershed. Discussion of Chester Morse Lake as a water resource for Seattle, Washington.
0:42-1:49: The first 360-degree view continues (wide perspective), of the Upper Cedar River watershed. Discussion of glacial geology, Rattlesnake Lake, and groundwater.
1:50-3:30: The second 360-degree view, of the Upper Cedar River watershed. The area includes Rattlesnake Ridge, Rattlesnake Lake, the Masonry Dam area, and western portions of Chester Morse Lake.
3:31-5:03: The third 360-degree view, of the Upper Cedar River watershed. The area includes areas from Rattlesnake Lake, to nearby areas towards the Masonry Dam, and all of Chester Morse Lake.
5:04-7:01: The fourth 360-degree view, of the Upper Cedar River watershed. The area includes low-angle perspectives from the Masonry Pool area (just upstream of the Masonry Dam), and the western end of Chester Morse Lake.
Music (CZcams Audio Library): Six Seasons (by Unicorn Heads)
Copyright by David Knoblach, 2024. All rights reserved

[@GeologyDude]

Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude! I hope that you enjoyed this educational video. Please “like” and subscribe to this channel, or leave a comment!

[@nightnday6675]

The drive and gathering of information to be presented to the less than few amazes me. Interests that are profound but not recognized. Thank you good sir.

[@GeologyDude]

Thank you! It takes a while to get some traction on CZcams, but your comment made my day!