HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2017-4638, by Representatives Tarleton, Frame, and Macri

WHEREAS, In 1906, under the command of Hiram M. Chittenden, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated preliminary planning for construction of a navigable connection to transport logs, milled lumber, and fishing vessels between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound; and

WHEREAS, In early 1909, the Washington State legislature appropriated $250,000 to excavate the canal between Lake Union and Lake Washington; and

WHEREAS, In June 1910, on the condition that all other canals along the route be paid for locally, the U.S. Congress gave its approval for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct the Ballard Locks; and

WHEREAS, Construction of the Ballard Locks commenced in 1911, connecting Salmon Bay to Shilshole Bay; and

WHEREAS, In July 1912, the Ballard Locks' gates closed for the first time, turning Salmon Bay from saltwater to freshwater; and

WHEREAS, On August 3, 1916, the first boat passed through the Ballard Locks; and

WHEREAS, In order to allow for the intended boat traffic, three existing bridges were removed along the ship canal route at Latona Avenue, Fremont Avenue, and Stone Way; and

WHEREAS, The newly constructed Ballard and Fremont Bridges were completed in 1917, followed by the University Bridge in 1919, and the Montlake Bridge in 1925; and

WHEREAS, The Lake Washington Ship Canal Project was declared completed in 1934; and

WHEREAS, Since its official opening on July 4, 1917, the Ballard Locks have continued to serve the city of Seattle and the Puget Sound region as a critical transportation corridor for commercial fishing and seafood processing vessels, tugs, barges, and recreational boats; and

WHEREAS, The Corps of Engineers also built a fish ladder at the Locks to allow salmon returning to spawning grounds to pass around the locks and dam; and

WHEREAS, The fish ladder was reconstructed in 1976 to improve water flow and fish passage and to create an underground viewing window for visitors to watch the returning salmon; and

WHEREAS, The nation's largest commercial fishing fleet, the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, is homeported on Salmon Bay at Port of Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal; and the Fleet goes to sea and returns home through the Ballard Locks; and

WHEREAS, Because the Ballard Locks and the Lake Washington Ship Canal provide access to Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, some of the nation's largest seafood processing vessels are based on the north end of Lake Union; and

WHEREAS, Averaging 50,000 vessels each year, the Ballard Locks carry more boat traffic annually than any other lock in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Together with the Fish Ladder and the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens, the Ballard Locks attract more than 1.2 million visitors annually, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city of Seattle and in Washington State; and

WHEREAS, The Ballard Locks have connected the salt waters of Puget Sound to Seattle's freshwater bays and lakes for 100 years, allowing the maritime and fishing industries to remain a core part of Seattle's economy and way of life;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate the Centennial birthday for the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks on July 4, 2017; extend recognition of, and appreciation for, the impact that the Ballard Locks have had on Seattle's way of life; and hope that these working locks will contribute to a better quality of life for all future generations.