April 22nd Volunteer Day at the Ballard Locks!

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About US Army Corp of Engineers/Lake Washington Ship Canal

Location:

3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107, US

Mission Statement

The Corps of Engineers Civil Works Programs is the nation's foremost water resources program. The Civil Works Program in Seattle District has traditionally been centered on navigation and flood control. Since the Water Resources Act of 1986, Seattle District has assumed a growing role in environmental restoration. Seattle District offers many programs for helping communities, counties, tribes, and other non-federal governments. We help these organizations solve water resource problems and take advantage of opportunities.

Description

Construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks was completed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Connecting the waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to the tidal waters of Puget Sound, the canal and locks allow recreational and commercial vessels to travel to the docks and warehouses of Seattle's busy freshwater harbor.

The complex of locks sits in the middle of Salmon Bay and are part of Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal. They are known locally as the Ballard Locks after the neighborhood to their north. (Magnolia lies to the south.)

The locks and associated facilities serve three purposes:

• To maintain the water level of the freshwater Lake Washington and Lake Union at 20 to 22 feet above sea level.
• To prevent the mixing of sea water from Puget Sound with the fresh water of the lakes (saltwater intrusion).
• To move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa