Let it snow, let it flow

When Water Managers think snow, they think water supply. For 100 years the City of Seattle has measured not only rainfall, but snow in its upper watersheds. Snow accumulates as snowpack in the winter and usually peaks in the beginning of April. Snowpack can be seen as an important natural reservoir, typically contributing tens of billions of gallons of meltwater as inflow into our water supply reservoir behind Masonry Dam.

On average, in the Cedar River Watershed snow contributes 24 billion gallons of water each year during the spring runoff period. Spring rains play an important role, too, in refilling our reservoirs in time for the summer when water use is at its highest. Managed water releases are also made from reservoirs to support instream flow requirements and objectives for salmon and habitat in the lower Cedar River. Learn more about our water supply conditions, current snowpack and Pacific Northwest stream flow forecasts. Also view our slideshow about how snow becomes our drinking water.

Did you know?

The Education Center is proud of its “knotweed graveyard.” The recent removal of invasive knotweed around the Center created a barren landscape full of opportunity. Join the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed and Seattle Public Utilities to replant with native species beneficial to wildlife. We kick-off a five-year King Conservation District restoration grant this Earth Day. Sign up to volunteer >

Check Out the
2013 Catalog

The 2013 catalog of field programs and workshops is now available! Stop by the Center  to pick up your free copy or view online >

Registration Open
To reserve your spot, please call or email. Requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Education Center

19901 Cedar Falls Rd SE
North Bend, WA 98045

OPEN
April thru October
Tuesday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

November thru March
Tuesday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area

19901 Cedar Falls Rd SE
North Bend, WA 98045
All Year
6:00 a.m. – Dusk