Lake Washington Watershed
The Cedar River and its many tributaries are considered some of the best salmon habitat in King County. The river flows west and northwest from the Cascade Range, traveling into Lake Washington and through the Ship Canal and the Hiram Chittenden Locks to Puget Sound. Porous glacial till in the upper watershed allows formation of a large aquifer, which feeds the Cedar and Snoqualmie River and Rattlesnake Lake.
The watershed encompasses 30 cities and approximately 22 percent of Washington’s population. The city of Seattle manages 143 square miles in the upper watershed as an ecological preserve, which provides drinking water for King County residents. The Cedar River Municipal Watershed is the only municipal watershed owned by its residents, and one of six protected watersheds nationwide.
EPA watershed profile:
- Counties: King, Kittitas, Snohomish
- National Estuary Programs: Puget Sound
- Other Watersheds Upstream: None
- Other Watersheds Downstream: Puget Sound
Related WRIA: 08
All Puget Sound WRIAs
Sources:
Friends of the Cedar River Watershed