Lake Boren Explained

Lake Boren
Coords:47.5327°N -122.1652°W
Inflow:China Creek
Outflow:Boren Creek
Basin Countries:United States
Area:16.2acres
Max-Depth:34feet
Elevation:387feet
Pushpin Map:Washington#USA

Lake Boren is located just south of downtown Newcastle, Washington. Lake Boren Park is located on its southwestern shore.

History

Lake Boren, once named Etta Cartney Lake,[1] [2] was once much larger and deeper than it is now, with a depth of 90feet in 1883. It is fed by China Creek, which originates on Cougar Mountain. The creek was named for Chinese coal miners, who had racial confrontations with white miners.[3] The lake overflowed onto a floodplain during the winter, which was used for grazing livestock during the summer. Before 1950, the lake had salmon runs that migrated from Lake Washington.

Sediment from China Creek reduced the depth of the lake to 34feet. The creek was channelized in the 1960s, stopping flooding and allowing for development near the lake. A culvert mostly stopped salmon migration in the 1950s.[4] [5] [6]

Description

Lake Boren Park has many amenities, including a fishing dock, tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a play area and picnic shelters. It is home to community events, such as concerts, Fourth of July fireworks, and Newcastle Days.[7] [8] [9]

There are many hiking trails near Lake Boren. The Waterline trail travels just to the west of Lake Boren Park, connecting it to the May Creek Trail and downtown Newcastle.[10] The CrossTown trail runs east from Lake Boren Park, connecting to the large trail network of Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park[11]

The lake is popular for fishing. It has been stocked with rainbow trout by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife since the salmon run was cut off. Other fish species in the lake include brown bullhead, coastal cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, and yellow perch.[12]

Lake Boren has 660acres of watershed area. It is a mesotrophic lake.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wydoski . Richard . Annotated Bibliography on the Ecology of the Lake Washington Drainage . Oregon State University . December 21, 2023.
  2. Book: Snoke . Rupert . Design for the Hydroelectric Development of Etta Cartney Lake and May Creek . 1908 . University of Washington.
  3. Web site: Lange . Greg . Miners force Chinese from Newcastle mine on June 3, 1876. . HistoryLink . December 21, 2023.
  4. Web site: CONSERVATION FUTURES (CFT) 2017 ANNUAL COLLECTIONS APPLICATION FOR FUNDS . King County . December 21, 2023.
  5. Web site: Crispo . Rich . China Creek – Lifeblood of Lake Boren . Newcastle (Washington) Historical Society . December 21, 2023.
  6. Web site: Crispo . Rich . Lake Boren: The old swimming hole . Newcastle (Washington) Historical Society . December 21, 2023.
  7. Web site: Park Amenities and Usage . City of Newcastle, Washington . December 21, 2023.
  8. Web site: Lake Boren Park . Renton Reporter . December 21, 2023.
  9. Web site: Newcastle Days set Friday, Saturday . Bellevue Reporter . December 21, 2023.
  10. Web site: Waterline Trail . Washington Trails Association . December 21, 2023.
  11. Web site: CrossTown Trail - Newcastle . Washington Trails Association . December 21, 2023.
  12. Web site: Lake Boren . Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife . December 21, 2023.
  13. Web site: Lake Boren . King County . December 21, 2023.