Lake Marcel

Lake Marcel is a private, reservoir and community^[4] in unincorporated Carnation, Lake Marcel-Stillwater,^[5] King County, Washington, United States, in the foothills of the Cascades.

Lake Marcel has a surface area of 33 acres (130,000 m²) and a watershed of 1,290 acres (5.2 km²). It has a maximum depth of 17 feet (5.2 m).^[6]

Lake Marcel is the third largest lake by surface area in Carnation, after Lake Joy with 105 acres (0.42 km²) and Lake Langlois with 39 acres (160,000 m²). Lake Marcel has the largest watershed of the three lakes, far exceeding Lake Joy at 468 acres (1.89 km²) and Lake Langlois at 226 acres (0.91 km²).^[7]

Lake Marcel is at an altitude of 295 feet (90 m) above sea level.^[8] The lake sits in a bowl at the top of Stillwater Hill on the east side of the Snoqualmie Valley. It has two main areas of water connected by a channel, and several peninsular features make an extensive shoreline around the lake.

Stillwater Creek

Lake Marcel is principally fed and drained solely by Stillwater Creek, named for the historic community downstream at the base of Stillwater Hill. Near Stillwater, the creek briefly joins Harris Creek before meeting the Snoqualmie River in an area protected by the 456-acre (1.85 km²) Stillwater Wildlife Area, owned by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.^[9] The 44-acre (180,000 m²) Stillwater Natural Area, owned by King County, is adjacent. The portion of Stillwater Creek below Lake Marcel is also labeled as Essency Creek on some maps and government databases.

History

Originally a beaver pond, the lake and surrounding acreage was residentially developed in the early 1960s by Pyramid Investment Company of Bellevue, Washington.^[10] An island at the north end of the lake was formed by bulldozing during the excavation of the lake.^[11] A concrete-lined fish ladder for the inflow from Stillwater Creek was built around 1963.^[11] An earthen dam was completed in 1964.^[12]

Community growth

In 1985, Duvall-King County Fire District #45 built the Lake Marcel Fire Station.

In 1989, Riverview School District #407 opened Stillwater Elementary School—named after the historic Stillwater School—close to Lake Marcel.^[13] It is the district's only public school in an unincorporated area.

Dam

A concrete dam engineered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers was built in the 1980s^[11] by the Lake Marcel Community Club (LMCC) to replace the earthen dam.

The Lake Marcel Dam is regulated by the Washington State Department of Ecology^[12] and is privately owned by members of the LMCC. It is the only dam in Carnation, according to the Inventory of Dams in the State of Washington.^[14]

The Lake Marcel Dam is 24 feet (7.3 m) high and 100 feet (30 m) long. It is capable of storing 350 acre feet (430,000 m³) in Lake Marcel and can discharge 1,300 cubic feet (37 m³) per second, a ratio of 371% discharge over capacity.^[12]

Comparison to other dams in the area

The Loutsis Dam in Duvall is 22 feet (6.7 m) high and 395 feet (120 m) long. It can store 138 acre feet (170,000 m³) in Loutsis Lake and can discharge 97 cubic feet (2.7 m³) per second, a ratio of 70%^[15]

The Lake Margaret Dam in Duvall is 39 feet (12 m) high and 480 feet (150 m) long. It can store 1,200 acre feet (1,500,000 m³) in Lake Margaret and can discharge 900 cubic feet (25 m³) per second, a ratio of 75%.^[16]

Population

A trio of lake communities between Duvall and the foothills of the Cascades are Lake Marcel, Lake Joy, and Lake Margaret. They are some of the farthest communities northeast of Seattle in King County, each of them having their own fire station.

The Lake Marcel-Stillwater census-designated place (CDP) represents the immediate area around Lake Marcel. It is the only CDP between Carnation and Duvall.

The Lake Marcel-Stillwater CDP is similar in size to Carnation and Fall City, both in the Snoqualmie Valley. In 2000, the Lake Marcel-Stillwater CDP had a population of 1381 over 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²). Fall City had a population of 1638 over 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²). Carnation had 1893 over 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²).

Homeowners Association

The Lake Marcel Community Club enforces regulations on the properties within its area of Plat and Dedication recognized by King County. LMCC maintains the dam, fish ladder, and 2 private beaches.

References