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About SPU
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Cedar and Tolt Watersheds
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Tolt River Watershed
Tolt River Watershed
The South Fork is Seattle's "other" watershed. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascades east of Carnation, WA, it supplies about 30% of the drinking water for 1.3 million people in and around Seattle. It first came on-line in 1964, and is now the location of a unique water filtration plant. The "Design, Build, Operate" program allows the City to save money and have a high quality, dependable water treatment facility for Tolt River water. In 1997, the City of Seattle successfully exchanged lands within the South Fork Tolt watershed with Weyerhaeuser. This exchange gives Seattle 70% ownership of the land that supplies the water.
The South Fork Tolt River Watershed:
- • Is 12,500 acres in size.
- • Can provide up to 100 million gallons of drinking water a day!
- • Began operation in 1964.
- • Can store up to 18.3 billion gallons of water.
- • Ranges from 760 feet in elevation at the regulating basin, to 5,535 feet at McLain Peak.
- • Receives between 90 and 160 inches of precipitation a year!
Related links
Tolt Treatment Facility
Cedar River Watershed
South Fork Tolt Watershed Management Plan (pdf)
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