| 10,000 – 60,000
years ago |
Four periods of glaciation
created steep valleys, lakes, porous and stable soils. Last,
Vashon Stade diverted River from previous route to Snoqualmie
River, to present lower Cedar River channel. Former channel
created travel route into Watershed from Snoqualmie Valley. |
|
| About 9,500 years
before present |
Radiocarbon dating
evidence of Native American encampment on Lake. Archaeological
investigation and ethnographic records show extensive use
of area around Lake, and at Rattlesnake Prairie, throughout
period from 9,850/9,450 B.P. to 1800s. |
|
| 1849 |
Samuel Hancock travels up ancient
riverbed from Snoqualmie Prairie up to Rattlesnake Prairie |
|
| 1852 |
R. H. Lansdale party explores up drainage to the Yakima Pass/Cascade Crest along Cedar River Trail, search for best cross-Cascade route |
from Snoqualmie River
drainage KENNEDY LARSON 1989:72* |
| 1853 |
George B. McClellan, directed by Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens to scout for a trans-Cascade railroad route, crosses over Yakima Pass from the east, but turns back before reaching the Lake |
McC. Later became one of best known Civil War Generals |
| 1854 |
Capt. Abel W. Tinkham
follows McClellan’s route up Yakima River, over Yakima
Pass, and travels down the River 14 miles west of the Cascade
Crest |
|
| 1855(?) |
Lake and River named
“Cedar” by Catherine T. Maynard while on canoe
trip in area. Quab-Quo and Nook-Noo were native names for
the river. Rattlesnake Prairie named when road survey group,
which included Arthur Denny, was in the area (?).
and he heard camas seed pods rattling in the wind. Party included
Indian guides, who may have told him of ‘Rattlesnake
Mountain.’ Indian oral tradition indicates rattlesnakes
once lived on western side of Cascades, and Snoqualmie people
had trade/marriage relations with eastern people, so knew
of rattlesnakes. |
Source was “Place
Names of Washington” HITCHMAN Disregard! Appear to be
many errors. WATERMAN: A237-Quob-quo appears for something
else.
Probably erroneous – Van Bokkelen refers in 1856 to
erecting a blockhouse in Rattlesnake Prairie [plans to erect]
) WATERMAN: A235a “Xudao” = Cedar River |
| 1856 |
Major J. J. H. Van
Bokkelen, Second Regiment, Northern Battalion of the Washington
Territory Volunteers, camps along north fork of Cedar River
during travels to determine location for guarding against
possible hostile Indians crossing over Yakima Pass from the
east. This location is popularly and mistakenly called “Fort
Tilton.” Also builds blockhouse and camps at Rattlesnake
Prairie. |
no evidence that blockhouse
was built there |
| 1858 |
Jeremiah W. Borst,
first permanent European-American settler in Snoqualmie Valley,
comes to area via the Cedar River Trail. |
|
| 1880s |
1890s Homesteading
and mining prospects bring non-natives to area. Under Homestead
Act of 1862, can claim up to 160-acre rectangular plats of
land surveyed under the Public Land Act. Mostly coal mine
claims in lower watershed, gold and silver in upper |
|
| 1881 |
Cedar River supported
as source of water supply for Seattle by F. H. Whitworth,
in area surveying for coal deposits. |
|
| 1889 |
“Great Seattle
Fire” one month later bond issue passes to develop the
Cedar River as water supply and to purchase lands to protect
the source |
June 6, 1889 per LAMB
1914: p.25* |
| 1892 |
Barneston founded
by Kent Lumber Co., named 1901 when post office established,
after John G. Barnes who owned much of the property. Extensions
to condemnation agreement gave Kent until 12/31/24 to remove
property. Barneston School District established 12/1894, merged
with Hobart 1923. |
LAMB 1914: p. 186
– reference to relocation of housing for Japanese laborers
[1906]*
City of Seattle Water Dept. 1913-1928; LAMB p.11-12 –Ordinances
and dates* |
| 1889 |
“Great Seattle
Fire” one month later bond issue passes to develop the
Cedar River as water supply and to purchase lands to protect
the source |
June 6, 1889 per LAMB
1914: p.25* |
| 1892 |
Barneston founded
by Kent Lumber Co., named 1901 when post office established,
after John G. Barnes who owned much of the property. Extensions
to condemnation agreement gave Kent until 12/31/24 to remove
property. Barneston School District established 12/1894, merged
with Hobart 1923. |
LAMB 1914: p. 186
– reference to relocation of housing for Japanese laborers
[1906]*
City of Seattle Water Dept. 1913-1928; LAMB p.11-12 –Ordinances
and dates* |
| 1892 |
Columbia and Puget
Sound RR line in to Taylor, location of sawmill to provide
timbers for parent company – Oregon Improvement Co.
– coal mines in Ravendale, Newcastle and Black Diamond.
1895, homesteader Sam Galloway sells land at Taylor to Denny
Clay Co. (which has been founded in 1892, spurred by increased
demand for bricks to rebuild Seattle after 1889 fire). Coal/clay
mining and production in full swing by 1900, primarily sewer
pipe, but also paving brick, fire brick, drain tile. Later,
flue lining, conduit tile, and building brick. 1905 Denny
sells out, Denny Clay Co. and Renton Clay Works incorporated
to form Denny-Renton Clay and Coal Co. 1910 –booming,
known as one of the best producers of sewer pipe on West Coast.
Taylor School District established 1904, merged with Tahoma
1943. Coal miners strike, pumps shut down, mine shafts fill
with water, unable to reopen. 1927DRC & C Co. sells to
Gladding, McBean and Co. Area seen as serious health hazard
to water supply; break in diversion ditch 1944 coincides with
alarming Health Dept. report moving City to condemn, deadline
7/47 to remove property. |
Ck’d/GETZ –
primary references
Sawmill taken over by Joe Donlan c. 1910, operated until sometime
in ‘30s.
GETZ p. 48, 37, 25-21-22*
“letter from Galloway: n.d., to Edmund S. Meany Oregon
Improvement Co. gave Taylor its name. Why? Was a William Taylor,
chief dispatcher of C & P.S. RR.* |
| 1895 |
Judgement under Ordinance
3990 of Oct. 29, 1895, which authorized C.R. gravity supply
system. Initiated policy of land acquisition. |
LAMB p. 109* |
| 1898 |
First parcel of land
purchased by City of Seattle, (Sec. 19, TWN 22 N, R 27 E -
site of Landsburg intake) by condemnation |
WILLIAMS p. 154* |
| 1898 |
Construction of hydroelectric
power plant begins at Cedar Falls, named for falls upstream
from location |
|
| 1899 |
Contract let for
$1,250,000 for construction of water system; plans prepared
by R. H. Thomson, City Engineer. |
|
| 1899 |
Seattle applies to
General Land Office in Washington, D.C., requesting temporary
withdrawal from entry, site, settlement or other disposal
of government lands within watershed. |
|
| 1900 |
Completion of diversion
dam at Landsburg, reducing anadromous fish run by 12.85 miles |
|
| 1901 |
Completion of wood
stave pipeline allows first drinking water to be delivered
to Seattle. |
Jan. 10, 1901 per
JOHN LAMB* |
| 1904 |
Completion of Timber
Crib Dam below Lake outlet raises lake level sixteen feet,
from 1530’ to 1546’; increases “head”
and provides intake for hydroelectric power plant. Camp I
is base for construction and then operation for Timber Crib
Dam. |
“1904”
per OBER & JOHNSON-1913 Reforestation Report
1916 Lake Topo Map – 1530’*
LAMB 1914: 78* |
| 1904 |
Hydro power plant
operational; birthplace of Seattle City Light and first municipally-owned
hydroelectric project in the country |
Municipal Lighting
and Power Plant 1913-1928 Report: p. 8* |
| 1906 |
Report on potential
impact of proposed C. M. & St. Paul RR line estimates
1,500 people will live in the watershed area, mostly in logging
camps. |
R.O.W. granted - McWILLIAMS |
| 1908 |
First of several City
Ordinances restricting public use of watershed to protect
water quality |
LAMB re: Mun Water
Plant 1914: p. 189 Ord. 1906* Camp, picnic, and loiter: fine
of $100 or jail up to 30 days.
19111-amended by Ord. 27534 to include trespass, fishing,
unless perf’g municipal work, or have been authorized |
| 1910 |
Cedar Falls School
District established. Population of City Light workers grows
as families of workers expand; eventually as many as 35 structures
at Cedar Falls, including amenities for remote community:
indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, and tennis court. 1911-new
school completed in Moncton area(photo shows date above door*)
Survived flood of 1915, but roof caved in from snowload. (oral
history*) 1919- last school completed at s.e. end of Rattlesnake
Lake. |
First school is one-room
in Moncton area. |
| 1907-1909 |
Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul RR builds main line through watershed, division
station, and switching yard at Moncton; railroad workers’
community there begins to grow
1910 Branch line to Enumclaw
1911 Branch line to Everett
1912 New RR depot built, Moncton re-named “Cedar Falls” |
Moncton townsite –
privately owned-mixture of lumber, power, RR workers’
families |
| 1908-1912 |
City surveys and
assesses private lands for condemnation. |
|
| 1910-1920 |
Greatest logging activity,
as many as 17 lumber companies active. By 1915, virtually
entire lower watershed has been logged |
|
| 1910 |
City of Seattle Water
and Light Departments become separate note: L. B. YOUNGS ---
Supt. Of Water Dept. 1895-1904 Supt. Water Dept. 1910 ….
Supt. Light and Water 1904 - 1910. |
Ann. Report of Lighting
Dept. 1911: 21* |
| 1910 |
November 8, Bond issue
passed $1.4 million to construct Masonry Dam |
Ann. Report of Lighting
Dept. 1911: 20* |
| 1912 |
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers diverts Cedar River into Lake Washington; before
had joined with the Black River, which drained Lake Washington
and flowed into the Duwamish |
Chrzatowski* |
| 1912 |
April 1, 1912; Moncton
Post Office Station & Depot changed to Cedar Falls |
Ann. Report of Lighting
Dept. 1911: 35* |
| 1914 |
City Cabin built,
used until about 1950 by timber cruisers, fire guards, snowpack
measurers, near confluence of north and south forks of Cedar
River; moved to Cedar Falls in 1963 |
|
| 1914 |
Masonry Dam completed
in October.
Camp II was base for construction and then operation of the
dam. Water level behind dam begins to rise on November 7,
creating Masonry Pool and increasing seepage through terminal
moraine, which formed northern embankment for the Pool. Was
intended to raise Lake level 60’ above maximum natural
level, to 1590’ elevation, increasing acres submerged
from 1222 to 2847. An 11’ diameter concrete lined underground
tunnel takes water from behind the dam to lower gatehouse,
where goes into wooden stave penstock which carries it down
to power plant at Cedar Falls. |
Mackin p. 9*
Lamb 1914:78*
Ann. Report of Lighting Dept. 1911:31 Description of proposed
dam* |
| 1915 |
Spring: Cedar Falls
(Moncton) is flooding due to rising elevation of Rainy Season
Lake, then becoming known as Rattlesnake Lake, fed by seepage
from moraine/Masonry Pool. Some of railroad workers’
community moves up to area between branch and main line tracks,
known by City workers as Railroad Camp. Former Moncton area
included in condemnation ordinance of 1916 (1/20/16). |
Population about 200
per MACKIN*;
C. of S. Report from 1913-1928:8 gives strange account of
why ord. condemned Moncton for water quality (Ord. 1/20/16) |
| 1914('13?)-1917 |
Cedar Lake Logging
Co. contract to clear all timber around Lake up to 1600’
contour, approx. 108 million board feet of timber. City constructs
railroad up to Dam, and then to head of Lake for timber removal |
|
| 1917 |
April 25: Ord. 37296
defines the watershed, provides for protection, defines offenses
against purity of the supply, provides for prosecution and
punishment, and repeals ordinances in conflict. Dec. 1926
Lake Youngs lands added. |
City … Report
from 1913 – 1928: 35* |
| 1918 |
December: “Boxley
Burst” – glacial moraine becomes saturated from
heavy rain and increased seepage due to rising level behind
Masonry dam, causing blowout and flood down Boxley Creek drainage.
Result: level behind dam has never been allowed to go above
1570’.
Hole cut in base of Dam in 1916 had been plugged in the fall.
Between 12/2 and 12/22 the water rose from 1484 to 1556. |
Dec. 24, 1918* according
to Roswell & McConaghy p. 38, but see Mackin, p. 11, who
has it as between midnight and 2 am on Dec. 23, 1918 |
| 1921-1928 |
Wood frame power
plant replaced by existing concrete structure |
|
| 1922 |
Major forest fire
sweeps down from Cedar Lake and threatens Cedar Falls; many
structures at Railroad Camp area destroyed. About 20 families
at “RR Camp”- fire destroyed nearly all of their
property. |
June 1, 1922
C. of S. Water Dept. 1913-1928, p. 14* |
| 1925 |
Allen E. Thompson
becomes first forester for the watershed. Previously he participated
in fieldwork and preparation of a report “Reforestation
on Cedar River Watershed.” Thompson is based at Camp
I, becoming first Water Dept. person to live in watershed.
He establishes nursery on flats north of Camp I to grow tree
seedlings. |
Report 1913-1928:
p. 24 Ord. 1/6/25 to appoint commission to prepare plan for
reforestation and $30 K to begin reforestation.
Ord. 2/ 3/35 approved reforestation plan. |
| 1924-1928 |
Swan Lake reservoir
construction. 1930 started use at Lake Youngs.
1924 Swan Lake name changed to Lake Youngs |
|
| 1928 |
Nursery moves to
former Hay Homestead site in lower watershed, due to severe
weather at earlier location; in operation until 1960 |
|
| 1932 |
Wood stave penstocks
replaced with riveted steel (1937?) |
|
| 1943-1944 |
Last school year
at Cedar Falls; district then merges with Snoqualmie Valley.
School building becomes headquarters for Mountain Tree Farm
Co., base of logging operations for Weyerhaeuser and Scott
Paper Co. |
|
| By 1944 |
Railroad logging replaced
by truck logging; logging camps begin to disappear |
|
| 1945 |
Agreement with private
land owners for regulation of timber harvest |
|
| 1954 |
Headquarters built
at Cedar Falls for Water Department – Forestry Division
(as watershed management unit then called) |
|
| 1955 |
Cedar Lake renamed
Chester Morse for former Water Dept. superintendent, who had
cabin at Lake in 1890s |
Roy Morse oral history
Ord. was in 1956 – tk. |
| 1956 |
Power Plant automated,
reducing personnel needs. Cedar Falls community begins to
decline and buildings to be removed |
|
| 1961 |
Milwaukee RR main
line passenger service ends |
|
| 1962 |
1945 agreement amended
to include U.S. Forest Service |
|
| 1964 |
South Fork Tolt River
water begins to supplement the Cedar Watershed as drinking
water source for greater Seattle |
August - per SW Ann.
Report 1964* |
| 1970 |
Rattlesnake Lake park
opened to public |
SWD - 1979 |
| 1979 |
Milwaukee RR bankrupt,
sells line west of Butte, Montana to Burlington Northern |
|
| 1989 |
Ordinance passed directing
Water Dept. to maintain closed unsupervised public access
to watershed, preserve all remaining old-growth forest on
city-owned lands, and develop following programs: forestry,
fish and wildlife, public education, cooperative research,
cultural resources, recreation |
|
| 1990 |
Last train comes through Cedar Falls |
|
| 1992 |
U.S. Congress passes
bill directing U.S. Forest Service and City to proceed with
completion of land exchange to consolidate all Cedar River
Watershed land in City ownership |
|
| 1996 |
U.S.F.S. land exchange
completed; City ownership complete except for small portions
of Burlington Northern RR ROW |
Jan.9 – signing
of final documents* |
| 1997 |
Land exchange completed
with Weyerhaeuser in South Fork Tolt; City ownership now 70%,
U.S.F.S. 30% |
November* |
| 2000 |
Habitat Conservation
Plan for Cedar River Watershed signed; 50-yr. Contract with
federal govt. to manage for protection and restoration of
habitat in exchange for continuing operation for water supply |
April 21 final approval
and issuance of ‘Incidental Take’ permits by NMFS
and USF&W* |
| 2001 |
Cedar River Watershed
Education Center completed |
Oct.2 ‘Grand
Opening’* |
