Snoqualmie Watershed
wa·ter·shed: wo-ter-shed (noun)
1. a geographical region draining into a river or river system
2. a critical moment that marks a division, a turning point.
If we use the first definition, the Snoqualmie watershed comprises some 700 square miles in King and Snohomish Counties, all of which drains into the Snoqualmie river. Reaching from the headwaters of the North, Middle, and South forks of the Snoqualmie river in the Cascade mountains in Southeastern King County all the way to the confluence of the Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers in southern Snohomish county, the region includes thousands of acres of forest and farm land, as well as the towns of North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City, Carnation, and Duvall.
If we use the second definition, the Snoqualmie watershed is the current period - as the region is trapped between the Scylla of increased and draconian environmental regulation and the Charybdis of the eastward urban and suburban sprawl of the greater Seattle metropolitan area.
| The vast majority of the Snoqualmie valley is private property. When I'm exploring the valley, I often find that intriguing places lie beyond closed gates. This gate is a thing of beauty in and of itself, although the view beyond is a great exemplar of the valley - open, quiet, tranquil, and filled with clearing fog. |
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| The agricultural activity in the valley produces a landscape rich with patterns and textures. This beautiful field, ground soft from recent rains, had just been mowed, and the tractor left an enchanting pattern of curving tracks as it passed over the field. This spot is one of my favorites in the valley because it's often filled with soft, beautiful light; the Snoqualmie river passes by only fifty feet behind the camera postion. |
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| It's just barely readable in this small image for web display, but the sign on the telephone pole reads "SLOW DOWN THIS IS NOT A #$%^& FREEWAY". When I found this spot several years ago, I thought it was excellent advice for life in general. Alas, the farm has been sold and the sign is no longer there. |
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| Although enclosed by forested hillside on both the east and west, the valley itself often has a sense of openness and solitude that I find restoring. |
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| Like gates, No Trespassing signs are ubiquitous. Sometimes they're repeated for emphasis. This dirt road parallels the Snoqualmie river, and it takes all my self control not to ignore the signs and do a little more exploring. |
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| Context is everything. When I lived in the suburbs, dandelions were The Enemy, and spotting even one in your lawn was likely to result in breaking out the weed sprayer loaded with 2-4d or some other weed killer. Here, though, an entire field of dandelions combined with a beautiful distant sunbreak to take my breath away. |
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| By rural standards, Duvall is a pretty big town, with three stop lights. The Art Shack was a pretty intriguing place; my daughter took some art classes there. Alas, it's now gone. |
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| The old railroad grade that runs along the river has been converted to a public trail. In several places where streams empty into the Snoqualmie River, there are concrete bridges like this one. I like this one in particular because the change in vegetation produces this beautiful change in lighting. |
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| During much of the year, the valley fills with fog overnight and then the fog burns off in the morning and early afternoon. |
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The sign reads:
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