The Joe E. Monahan Findley Lake Reserve is located in the upper reaches of the Cedar River watershed, a natural, high-elevation, forested stream basin. The site was set aside by the Seattle Water Department in 1972 as an ecological preserve and has been used by the UW for research since then. A wide variety of productivity, mineral cycling, tree physiology, and forest meteorology studies have been conducted there.

Location

Upper Cedar River Watershed (southeastern King County)

Contact

SEFS Director’s Office, 206-543-2730, sefs@uw.edu

Acreage

Findley Lake is located in a 640-acre watershed

Buildings

A 12’x16′ A-frame cabin (40 yrs. old) for housing, storage, work area in good condition

Equipment

None

Housing

Short term by permission of watershed management

Owner

City of Seattle, current use is governed by an agreement with the City entered into in 1968

Support

Research grants and contracts

Recent Usage

Research: The facilities support only research, however, no research is being done currently. Instruction: Occasional classes (day trips). Non-UW: Outreach programs would be difficult or impossible to get approved by the city.

Usage Fee

None

Condition

Good

Communication

Radio, cellular phone

Access

Access is controlled by the City of Seattle and is allowed by permit only. Access is difficult, seasonal, and limited to a one-mile foot trail or helicopter.

Unique Environment

The terrain is alpine and talus, ranging from flat lands to cliffs. The area is primarily forested, with a mixed stand of old growth mountain hemlock and silver fir. The lake’s elevation is approximately 1,100 meters and the upper part of the watershed has a maximum elevation of 1500 meters.

Faculty/Staff

None