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v^r*** LAKE WASHINGTON SHIP CANAL AND LOCKS encourage rapid growth of recreational boating as well as fishing and commercial-vessel traffic. Aerial photo at left, by The Post-Intelligencer, shows pleasure craft assem­ bling in the canal and Portage Bay for the annual yachting parade...Above are boats moving out of the small lock to cruise on Puget Sound...Shilshole Bay's small-boat basin (right), adjacent to the entrance of the canal, is a co-operative undertaking by the Fed­ eral Government and the Port of Seattle. OTHER RIVER AND HARBOR and Flood-Control work of the Army Engineers' Seattle District is represented by the projects shown on this page. At left Is Howard A. Hanson Dam, a new flood-control project in Eagle Gorge of the Green River in western Washington...Above Is the Army Engineer's Snagboat W. T. Preston which helps keep Puget Sound harbors and navigable rivers of West­ ern Washington free of logs and other hazards...Chief Joseph Dam (right), on the Columbia River near Bridge­ port in north-central Washington, Is one of the United States' largest power producers. UsV

CANAL OPENS INLAND HARBOR some means were not provided to return the salt water and In the small lock, 123 feet. The large lock's cham­ to the lower pool. To meet this difficulty, a salt­ ber is 80 feet wide and the small one 28 feet. The Lake Washington Ship Canal, lying wholly wlth- water basin, about 2,000 feet long and 250 feet wide, The larger lock's walls are 55 feet high above the with its bottom elevation 12 feet lower than the ele­ floor and the small lock's 42 feet high. Vessels going vation of the upstream miter sill, was dredged Immedi­ through the locks from salt water to fresh water, or Unlon and Lake Washington. All have the same level and ately above the large lock. From the lower end of this vice versa, are lifted or lowered between 6 and 26 feet. are connected by free and unobstructed channels 30 feet basin a discharge conduit 30 square feet In cross sec­ The exact raise depends upon the tide in the Puget Sound deep at low lake level. This Inland harbor has a total tion extends to the downstream side of the spillway entrance to the locks and the lake level. area of 25,000 acres and a shore line of about 100 dam. The outer end of this drain can be seen at the VESSEL TRAFFIC'S ALL-TIME RECORDS miles. It is protected from storms and Is free from dam, close to the small lock. tidal fluctuations and currents. This, together with Since these locks were opened to traffic In 1916 CULVERTS AND VALVES MOVE WATER the salt-water harbor of Elliott Bay, affords Seattle until the end of 1961, vessels passing through totaled navigation facilities which are regarded as among the The water is raised and lowered in the lock by 2,152,535. The record was 1958 when 79,396 vessels best in the United States. Prior to construction of means of culverts, one in each side wall with lat­ went through. This included 53,668 pleasure craft, the canal and locks, there was no connection between erals extending into the chamber at the floor level, 10,904 fishing boats, 7,101 tugs, 4,622 barges, 2,145 Lake Union and Lake Washington, and Lake Union had no the flow being controlled by valves. The culverts of U. S. Government vessels, 469 passenger and 240 foreign navigable connection with Salmon Bay. the large lock are 8± feet wide and 14 feet high. The vessels. There also were 366 log rafts locked through LAKE WATER ELEVATION laterals are 4 feet wide and 2 feet high. There are that year. The vessel net tons for 1958 were 3,648,679. 24 entering the upper chamber and 28 in the lower cham­ Average annual tonnage of cargo through the locks for Before construction of the locks, Lake Washing­ ber. The valves of the large lock are of the stony the last 10 years was about 2,065,000. ton's elevation fluctuated between 29 and 33 feet gate type. The valves of the small lock are of the The all-time highest month for vessel traffic above mean lower low water in Puget Sound, and Its cylindrical type. through the locks was August 1957 with a total count of outlet was at the south end of the lake through the Emergency dams are provided for both locks, to 13,811. Labor Day 1957 handled the largest single-day Black River and into the Duwamish River. Lake Union stop the flow of water In an emergency caused by some traffic when 1,189 vessels were locked through. was regulated at about Its present elevation (mean 21 accident that would permit the unobstructed flow of MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS feet) by spillway gates at the extreme westerly end. water through the lock. Salmon Bay and Shilshole Bay were navigable at high LOCKS UNWATERED EACH YEAR Passengers through the Chittenden locks in 1958 tide, but both bays were practically dry at extreme totaled 348,512. But there's a bigger story than that The pumping plant for unwatering the locks for re­ low tide. from our shoreslde count.' Visitors from many parts of pairs consists of two 30-lnch pumps with a capacity of When the canal was constructed, a channel was the world, who came to tour the beautiful grounds and about 40,000 gallons per minute; one 10-inch pump with dredged making Shilshole Bay navigable at all times, enjoy watching the boat lockages during 1958, totaled a capacity of about 2,400 gallons per minute, and a 3- Salmon Bay was raised and Lake Washington was lowered 1,067,000. lnch sump pump, all electrically operated. The large to the level of Lake Union. Cedar River, which en­ Dozens of school classes come to the locks each lock is closed for a period of 12 days for annual over­ tered the Black River about one-half mile below the year on field trips as part of their social studies or haul each Fall, and the small lock has its turn for the old outlet of Lake Washington, now discharges into Washington State history courses. They travel In same purpose in the Spring. Approximately 8 hours are Lake Washington. The outlet through the Black and school buses and private cars, with teachers and par­ required to pump all water out of the large lock. Duwamish Rivers no longer exists. ents In charge. Some come from towns more than 100 Electric power for the operation of the locks is the south shore of Salmon Bay Is 240 feet long, with that annually several thousand salmon enter the canal miles away. The students then write trip reports. SPILLWAY CONTROLS LAKE ELEVATION delivered to the transformer station at 26,000 volts, six gated openings, each 32 feet long. Maximum capaci­ from tidewater. About 90 per cent of these pass Despite the great amount of water traffic and the The spillway dam and two locks, one large and and is transformed at the lockslte to 2,500 volts, 250 ty of the spillway is a flow of about 16,000 cubic feet through the locks and 10 per cent use the fish ladder. multitudes of shoreslde visitors, no serious injuries one small, about l± miles up the canal from the Puget volts and 120 volts for operating motors and for light­ per second. A fish ladder for the passage of salmon to have occurred on the locks premises in more than 20 Sound entrance, maintain the elevation of the Lakes SALT WATER RETURNED TO SOUND ing the grounds and buildings. the upper pool Is provided around the dam at the south­ years. This good record is a result of improved facil­ within the required range of 1 foot above and 1 foot LOCKS LARGE BUT NOT LARGEST Because of the difference in density between the ities and safety precautions, plus well-trained and below the normal elevation of Lake Union. ern end. fresh water above (upstream side) and the salt water Many people have the impression that these locks alert personnel on duty. The distance by channel from deep water In Puget SALMON USE THE LOCKS TOO below (downstream side) the locks, there Is always an are second only to the Panama Canal locks in size. Truth TIME AND QUANTITIES IN LOCKAGES Sound to deep water In Lake Washington is approximate- The lock and dam structures evidently offer no upstream undercurrent of salt water and a downstream Is, there are several locks In the United States larger 8 miles. The tidal reach extends from Shilshole Bay considerable obstruction to the passage of migratory surface current of fresh water during lockages. The than these in Seattle; but It is likely that few, If any, The average lockage through the large lock requires to the locks. The extreme tidal range is 19.3 feet. fish from salt to fresh water, or vice versa. The flow of salt water Into the upper pool eventually handle more vessels in a year. Length of the longest about 25 minutes and through the small lock about 10 The spillway dam extending from the small lock to Washington State Department of Fisheries has estimated would turn the lakes Into a salt-water reservoir If vessel which can use the large lock here Is 760 feet; minutes. Large ships seldom require more than 30 minutes. Log tows occasionally take an hour, although for new work; $8,110,400 for maintenance, operation they usually pass through in about 30 minutes* Because and care; a total of $11,649,700. In addition, the of the abundance of small vessels In this region, sev­ State of Washington expended more than $246,600 and eral boats usually are passed through at each lockage. King County $742,000 In the excavation of the channel About 30 pleasure craft can be accommodated along the above the locks and in construction of concrete revet­ walls of the large lock; however, if boats are moored ment at the portage. The portage Is between Portage several abreast, about 60 can be taken at a single Bay on the west and Union Bay on the east, or where lockage. that portion of the canal separates Montlake and Uni­ The locks are in service continuously, night and versity districts. day, throughout the year. No charge is made for their SEVEN ACRES OF GARDENS use—the boats go up or down and through the locks free- The L.W.S.C. locks are complemented by seven but every boat operator Is obligated to practice cour­ acres of notable botanic gardens containing flowers, tesy and give willing response to the few rules for trees and shrubs from many lands of the world. China, lock users. This saves time and promotes safety. Ves­ Tibet, Burma, India, in addition to European and other sel operators should obtain a helpful folder of in­ nations, have contributed to the natural beauty to be structions from a lock attendant. enjoyed by visitors to the locks all seasons of the LOCKS GIVEN NEW NAME year. Even before the passage for vessels was com­ pleted In 1916, basic plantings of trees and shrubs Officially, these locks no longer should be refer­ had been made on the grounds, many donated by the red to as "the Government Locks" or "the Ballard Seattle Park Department. Locks". On 24 July 1956, the President of the United The Government's gardener at the locks, Carl S. States signed Public Law 779, 84th Congress, 2d Session, English, Jr., has been successful in obtaining many which named the locks of the Lake Washington Ship Canal delightful specimens from well-known botanic gardens the "Hiram M. Chittenden Locks", in honor of the man of Europe. He also has gathered floral and horti­ who was the Corps of Engineers' District Engineer from cultural gems locally and from various parts of the April 1906 to September 1908. Major Chittenden was United States. Numbers of his seed collection from primarily responsible for design of the locks and a the mountains of the Northwest have been used as a detailed workable plan for the project. He Is credited medium of exchange with various botanic gardens of with having accelerated greatly the construction of the the world to obtain seeds of otherwise unobtainable canal and development of the Port of Seattle, even pur­ plants for the enjoyment of visitors to the grounds suing these interests after being retired in 1910 be­ here. cause of ill health. He was given the rank of Briga­ Many local as well as out-of-town garden clubs, dier General In recognition and reward for his out­ routes were considered to be between Salmon Bay and County, or other local agency, should excavate the school classes, and neighborhood groups of flower- standing service to the Nation. Puget Sound—one via Smith Cove to Elliott Bay, and waterway above the lock. loving persons make special trips to the locks to CANAL IDEA 100 YEARS OLD the other via Shilshole Bay. The present general Construction of the canal was started by the Corps route via Shilshole Bay, being the less expensive and of Engineers In September 1911. Artificial lowering of see and study the plants found here. A number of The Idea of a canal to connect Puget Sound with having a better alignment, was preferred. Seattle and Lake Washington from mean elevation 29.8 feet to mean leading botanists and horticulturists of both this Lakes Union and Washington received Federal recogni­ King County acquired the right-of-way at a cost of 21 feet above Puget Sound (sea level) was begun on 12 country and Europe have visited these gardens, a tion as early as 1867. A Board of Engineers, appointed about $250,000, and deeded It to the United States In July 1916 and completed 21 October 1916. The water tribute to the talents of Mr. English, who also Is to consider the location of a site for a naval station 1890. Several further investigations and reports were level In Salmon Bay, which originally was tidal, was a recognized authority of this field In his own right. in Puget Sound waters, reported favorably on two—Port made. In 1906, Congress authorized the construction, brought up to Its present elevation (mean 21 feet) on Visitors are welcome to come and enjoy the gar­ Orchard, a tidal harbor, and Lake Washington, a fresh­ by private capital, of a canal with a timber lock. 26 July 1916. The normal level of Lake Union was the dens as well as to watch the boats go through the water basin. After a reconnaissance In 1871, Lake King County pledged Its credit to the extent of $500,- same as it Is now. The small lock was opened to traf­ locks—any day, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Washington was recommended for consideration by the War 000 in aid of the work. fic 30 July 1916 and the large lock on 3 August 1916. U. S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, SEATTLE Department. In 1888 the naval station was located at The existing project with permanent masonry locks, The navigable channel between Lakes Union and Washing­ 1519 Alaskan Way South Port Orchard and the site on Lake Washington abandoned. was adopted by the U. S. Congress in June 1910, based ton was completed 8 May 1917. Official dedication of Seattle 4, Washington The U. S. Congress made Its first appropriation on the 1907 report by the Seattle District of the Corps the project was held 4 July 1917. Te 1ephones: In 1890 for a canal as a commercial waterway to con­ of Engineers. The terms of local co-operation required The costs of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and District Office, MUtual 2-2700 nect Lake Washington and Puget Sound. The two best that in addition to furnishing the right-of-way, King locks to June 30, 1961, were approximately $3,539,300 Chittenden Locks, SUnset 3-7001 APRIL 1962 AtMT-sE A •• 1ST., •••