Bow Lake is a small lake in SeaTac, Washington, United States. It is located next to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, just across Route 99. The lake has played a key role in the airport's history, and the airport was originally named for it. Due to rapid urbanization and alteration of the lake's watershed, water quality has deteriorated significantly. A major drinking water pipeline runs near the lake.
| Bow Lake | |
|---|---|
 Bow Lake as seen from an adjacent hotel | |
  Bow Lake  Bow Lake | |
| Location | SeaTac, Washington, US |
| Coordinates | 47°26′19″N 122°17′35″W / 47.43861°N 122.29306°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 335 ft (102 m) |
| References | [1] |
Geography
editBow Lake is one of several small lakes in the region, including Lake Burien and Angle Lake. These lakes formed as glaciers retreated during the Last Ice Age, and are spring-fed. Native Americans used these lakes for fishing and hunting waterfowl.[2]
Before the airport was built, the area around the lake was largely rural. It is now heavily urbanized, and is surrounded by airport hotels and a retirement community.[3]
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
editSeattle–Tacoma International Airport was built in the early 1940s, in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the United States into World War II. A site for SeaTac airport near Lake Sammamish was initially preferred., but the nearby Cascade Range posed safety issues. At that time, Bow Lake was located in an undeveloped area, with only a small private airfield. Monetary incentives from Tacoma and Pierce County ultimately helped sway the decision, despite warnings of heavy fog at the site.[4][5][6] This included a $100,000 contribution from the city of Tacoma.[6]
.jpg)
Pollution
editIn 1997, King County, the Port of Seattle, the city of SeaTac and the city of Des Moines conducted an extensive study of Des Moines Creek and its watershed, which includes Bow Lake. It found that Bow Lake has very poor water quality, polluting Des Moines Creek downstream. Nutrient concentrations are high, leading to toxic algal blooms. This causes dissolved oxygen levels to decline significantly, which is harmful to aquatic ecosystems. Fecal coliform levels are high. Development near the airport has led to a large impervious area that drains into the lake, harming its water quality.[3]
Pumpkinseed sunfish and largemouth bass have been found in the lake.[3]
Bow Lake Pipeline
editBefore the 1950s, there were three pipelines that brought drinking water to Seattle from the Cedar River watershed and Lake Youngs. The fourth pipeline, known as Cedar River Pipeline Number Four or the Bow Lake Pipeline was built to provide a direct supply of water from Lake Youngs to the area near the airport. Previously, water was pumped into a reservoir (not Bow Lake itself) from West Seattle, which was straining the water system there. The new pipeline entered service in 1954, and supplies the airport area and West Seattle.[7][8]
Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station
editKing County's largest recycling transfer station is located near Bow Lake, next to Interstate 5. The station sorts incoming recyclable materials for reprocessing, and sends waste to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Bow Lake". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Dorpat, Paul; Crowley, Walt. "SeaTac — Thumbnail History". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c "DES MOINES CREEK BASIN PLAN" (PDF). King County. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Guevara, Natalie. "In history: Sea-Tac Airport was once home to model of plane that dropped the A-bombs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Diltz, Colin (19 April 2018). "Photos: What did Sea-Tac Airport look like in 1949? Think Stratocruisers and an old-timey diner". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Crowley, Walt. "Sea-Tac International Airport: Part 1 — Founding". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Building Washington: A history of Washington State Public Works". University of Washington. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Stein, Alan. "Seattle awards contract for construction of Cedar River Pipeline Number Four on March 21, 1951". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station Fact Sheet" (PDF). King County. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.