Until 1916, the Black River linked Lake Washington with the Duwamish River, and the water was deep enough for steamboats to travel between towns on the lake and Puget Sound. After the lake was lowered in 1916, during construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, the Black River dried up and gradually disappeared. This photo shows the Black River as it looked around 1898-1900.
Photo courtesy Museum of History & Industry, 1988.33.286, Anders Wilse photographer, circa 1899
What was once the streambed of the Black River is currently the site of the Renton Wastewater Treatment Plant and its point of discharge.
Craig: this is a note to you, not for posting...unless you wish to do so.
I think the comment: "Renton WWTP and its point of discharge" is incorrect. I believe this plant's discharge is transmitted by a large underground pipe downstream of the plant along the Dawamish and to salt water.
There is a stormwater pump station nearby that takes collected surface waters from the area and discharges them to the Dawamish. Perhaps the operation of this facility caused one to think it was the WWTP discharge.
Regards,
s/Pete Butkus
Posted by: Pete Butkus | 09/12/2017 at 07:08 AM