Delta Lake (Washington)

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Delta Lake
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Delta Lake
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Delta Lake
Location King County, Washington, United States
Coordinates 47°35′30″N121°18′36″W / 47.59173°N 121.310°W / 47.59173; -121.310 Coordinates: 47°35′30″N121°18′36″W / 47.59173°N 121.310°W / 47.59173; -121.310
Primary outflows West Fork of the Foss River [1]
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area45.6 acres (18.5 ha) [2]
Average depth43 ft (13 m)
Max. depth121 ft (37 m)
Water volume2.37 hm3 (84,000,000 cu ft)
Surface elevation3,235 ft (986 m) [3]

Delta Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, north of the Necklace Valley lakes in King County, Washington. Because Delta lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout. [2] Delta Lake is a consequence of the spill of the outlets of three major Alpine Lakes: Otter Lake, Big Heart Lake, and Angeline Lake. [4] The West Fork of the Foss River exits Delta Lake in two outlets which merge into one stream shortly above the top of Upper Foss River Falls.

Contents

Waterfalls

Two waterfalls are found neighboring the lake, both at the northern outflow of the lake: 337 ft (103 m) tall Upper Foss River Falls and 251 ft (77 m) tall Lower Foss River Falls. [1] Approximately a mile west downstream of the Delta Lake's inflow from Big Heart Lake is a third waterfall, [4] 1,262 ft (385 m) tall Big Heart Falls, while 424 ft (129 m) tall Angeline Falls is located about the same distance upstream the West Fork Foss River from Angeline Lake towards Delta Lake. [5] Delta Lake is surrounded by forested slopes and, unlike its neighbor lakes, it laks the characteristic talus, and avalanche tracks. [6] Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit around Delta Lake and within the neighboring Necklace Valley area. [7] A prominent delta flows into Delta Lake formed by the West Fork Foss River and other streams from Big Heart Lakes.

See also

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Middle Fork Feather River

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Angeline Falls is a large waterfall located on an unnamed tributary of the West Fork Foss River in Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, King County, Washington. It is a horsetail type waterfall 450 feet (137 m) high and more than 120 feet (37 m) wide. The waterfall is perennial and flows from the outlet of Angeline Lake to the head of Delta Lake. It is at 47.58340oN, 121.31034oW.

Foss River Falls is a 650-foot (200 m) drop on the West Fork Foss River in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, King County, Washington. Its sources are at Delta Lake, and the 70-foot (21 m)-wide drop flows year-round. The waterfall is split into two parts. Each part is split into several tiers.

Big Heart Falls is a waterfall on the outlet stream of Big Heart Lake, which eventually flows into the Skykomish River, in King County, Washington. It is located between the outlet of Big Heart Lake and the inlet of Delta Lake. The falls are said to drop approximately 1,268 feet (386 m).

The valley of the West Fork Foss River contains a fair amount of waterfalls. The river heads in a series of large lakes: Big Heart Lake, Angeline Lake, and Otter Lake- which form spectacular waterfalls as they plunge down to Delta Lake. On the valley walls downstream of Delta Lake, are found even more waterfalls.

Tye River (Washington)

The Tye River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It rises near Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains and flows west, joining the Foss River to form the South Fork Skykomish River. Its waters eventually empty into Puget Sound near Everett via the Skykomish River and Snohomish River. U.S. Route 2 follows the river's entire length. A BNSF Railway line follows most of the river except near the pass where the tracks use the Cascade Tunnel. Powerlines run by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) follow the Tye River west of Tunnel Creek.

Foss River

The Foss River is a stream in the U.S. state of Washington. It has two main forks, the East Fork Foss River and the West Fork Foss River. The main stem is formed by the confluence of the two forks. The river and its forks rise near in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the Cascade Mountains and flows generally north, joining the Tye River to form the South Fork Skykomish River. The Foss River's waters eventually empty into Puget Sound near Everett via the Skykomish River and Snohomish River.

Big Heart Lake

Big Heart Lake is the most remote and highest-elevation on-trail lake in the West Fork Foss River system. It is a 14.6-mile (23.5 km) round-trip hike from the trailhead, just off of the Foss River Road. The lake is located at the eastern base of Camp Robber Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, within King County, Washington.

Deception Creek (Washington)

Deception Creek is a river that is located in Northwestern King County, Washington. The river starts at the outlet of Trico Lake on Trico Mountain and flows north before flowing into Tye River east of Skykomish. The last stretch of Deception Creek before joining the Tye River forms a cliff that houses the Deception Falls, an 86 feet waterfall.

Angeline Lake

Angeline Lake is a freshwater lake located on the northern slope of Iron Cap Mountain between Otter Lake, Azure Lake and Big Heart Lake, in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. West Fork Foss River exits Angeline Lake into a canyon that produces Angeline Falls downstream from Chetwoot Lake to Delta Lake. Because Angeline Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.

Chetwoot Lake

Chetwoot Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western slope of Iron Cap Mountain next to Crawford Lake, in King County, Washington. West Fork Foss River exits Chetwoot Lake towards Angeline Lake and then to a canyon that produces Angeline Falls downstream towards Delta Lake. Because Angeline Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing.

Opal Lake

Opal Lake, also known as Necklace Valley Lake 3, is a freshwater lake located on the western region of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in King County, Washington. The lake is connected by stream to Emerald Lake and Jade Lake, which form together the Neckelace Valley Lakes. Opal Lake and its surrounding lakes and peaks are a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing Rainbow trout. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Otter Lake (Washington)

Otter Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western slope of Otter Point northwest of Maple Valley in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. Other prominent lakes are west of Otter Lake, including Angeline Lake, Azurite Lake and Big Heart Lake, while Opal Lake and other Necklace Valley lakes are on the eastern slope of Otter Point. Because Otter Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing.

Azurite Lake

Azurite Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, between Otter Lake and Angeline Lake in King County, Washington. A short distance south towards Iron Cap Mountain is Azure Lake and Iron Cap Lake. The south shore of the lake rests on a prominent granite ledge up towards a hillock and steep heathland that lead to Iron Cap Mountain. The North shore of the lake is bound by the steep slopes of Saint Agnes Ridge which continue on the eastern slopes of Angeline Lake. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Azure Lake (King County, Washington)

Azure Lake is a small freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, between Azurite Lake and Angeline Lake in King County, Washington. A short distance south towards Iron Cap Mountain is Iron Cap Lake. Towards the North are the steep slopes of Saint Agnes Ridge which continue eastwards towards Otter Lake. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area. Azure Lake is located in a prominent valley along the southern skirt of the Mount Daniel area in connection with the North-Middle Forks Snoqualmie mountain grouping area.

Iron Cap Lake

Iron Cap Lake is a small freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, at the south ridge of Azurite Lake and other Necklace Valley lakes in King County, Washington. The lake is nestled on the north skirt of Iron Cap Mountain and produces the West Fork of the Foss River towards Bonnie Lake and contributions from Otter Lake. A short distance towards the West are Crawford Lake and Chetwoot Lake. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Crawford Lake (Washington)

Crawford Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, at the western ridge of Iron Cap Mountain in King County, Washington. The lake is nestled on a set of prominent valleys and peaks and produces Crawford Creek which flows as one of many tributaries of the Middle Fork Foss River. A short distance towards the north are Chetwoot Lake, Angeline Lake and the Necklace Valley Lakes. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Bonnie Lake (Washington)

Bonnie Lake is a small freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, south of Otter Lake and the Necklace Valley lakes in King County, Washington. Two waterfalls are found neighboring the lake, one at the eastern inflow and the other at the western outflow: Upper and Lower Bonnie Lake Falls respectively. A short distance towards the South are Iron Cap Mountain and Iron Cap Lake. Bonnie Lake is surrounded by forests except on the eastern side, which is largely composed of vegetated bedrock, talus, and avalanche tracks. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

References

  1. 1 2 "Upper Foss River Falls". Northwest Waterfall Surface. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Delta". WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife . Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Big Heart Falls". Northwest Waterfall Surface. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. "Angeline Falls". Northwest Waterfall Surface. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. David P. Dethier, Paul L. Heller. "Reconnaissance Data on Lakes in the Alpine" (PDF). US Geological Society. p. 102. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. "Necklace Valley Trail 1062". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 15 April 2021.