Dobrowolsky's Seattle Views

documenting Seattle's built environment... since 2003

 

Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Public Tour

In a manner of speaking, this was "part 2" of the Port of Seattle's Duwamish 101 tour a few weeks ago. It was on that tour that we learned about this one; also, at least half of the people this Saturday were on the first one. This tour took us further upstream, too, because we were previously unable to navigate further than the insane car-crushing mayhem yard due to the many nets that were in the water a few weeks ago.

We also on a much smaller boat today. Rather than the double-decker Lady Mary (Argosy), the DRCC chartered a pedestrian ferry from the Kitsap. This one was a single-deck catamaran. It had open areas at the the bow and stern so that I could take photos not-through-glass. I hung out at the stern because there was less wind there and it had a canopy, which was nice as there were periods of light drizzle.

Being smaller, we could maneuver into tight spaces. You'll notice this on the track log (below) as we piddled around Kellogg Island, for example, as well as into the vestigial portion of one of the river's natural meanders just at the end of Georgetown. We were also lower and down closer to the water, which made everything that much more intimate.

Speaking of intimacy, the Port's tour whetted my apetite with the promise that the character of the river changes further upstream. It is suppposed to be more residential as the industry slowly fades. What with the high tide, the smaller boat, and the fewer number of nets, we were able today to finally go upstream and see it.

The overcast sky lent the perfect light and mood to the tour. I greatly enjoyed the intimate look at industrial plants and the backyards in South Park that faced the river bank. Since it was Saturday, the industrial portions were quieter and since it was morning-ish, people seemed to be sleeping in in the residential portions. There was a nice stillness all around, as opposed to the bustle of the weekday, yet there wasn't a complete lack of activity. Life goes on, even on the weekend, whether it was tugs speeding off to Harbor Island or neighbors talking. Every once in a while, small raindrops upset the calm surface of the riverjust before the wake from our boat rolled in.

My friend from grad school, Genevieve, was aboard the tour as well and it was nice to chat and to get her perspective on the area, as she's a resident of these south-lands. A good Saturday to be out on the water...

 

November 1, 2008

 

track: Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Boat Tour

 

 

[ 119 track points ]

Center of track:

map of photographs in 20081101--Duwamish

 

 

Seattle Views >> Waterfront >> 20081101--Duwamish

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156 photographs in folder: 20081101--Duwamish

(click images to see more sets within)

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item number: 20081101TRD174425

 

 

 

 

 

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For some reason, I just can't get over the sight of this shipping containerspiled on the side of the river.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD181805

 

 

One of the Combined Sewer Overflows. Beneath the concrete structure is a set of pipes that release combined storm and sewer water during large rain events when waste-water treatment plants could get overwhelmed. I can't remember if this one still works or whether it's been converted to no longer release sewer water.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD181954

 

 

Although not completely trashed, the river has its fair share of junk floating in it.

 

 

 

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This year's autumn has been fantastic. It has reminded me of the Midwest. The view of the leave from the river was spectacular.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD182245

 

 

...the other spectacular views were those of ships and barges and, especially, their typography. Being in a smaller ship, we were able to get up much closer to them than on the previous tour.

 

 

 

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Upstream end of Kellogg Island... with downtown way in the background.

 

 

 

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View downstream the only natural meander left in the lower Duwamish. It flows around the west side of Kellogg Island. From nautical charts, it seems that portions of the river bottom may be exposed during the lowest low tides.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD183120

 

 

View downstream the only natural meander left in the lower Duwamish. It flows around the west side of Kellogg Island. From nautical charts, it seems that portions of the river bottom may be exposed during the lowest low tides.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD183232

 

 

 

 

 

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Two tugs were speeding off toward Harbor Island, presumably to tend to a container ship either leaving or arriving.

 

 

 

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This one caused a good wake.

 

 

 

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In addition to amazing typography, there's an amazing amount of colors on the river.

 

 

 

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The Alaska Marine Lines' Southeast Provider.

 

 

 

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Back at the yard of car-crushing mayhem! This is where we stopped on the last tour.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD184427

 

 

 

 

 

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These people were getting an even more intimate look at the river.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD184648

 

 

Here we started seeing more residential portions of the river. This is the west bank, across Georgetown and just below South Park.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD184713

 

 

Some guys were welding something on the side of this tugboat.

 

 

 

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I believe this was another Combined Sewer Overflow, right next to the little park/overlook at the end of 8th Ave on the Georgetown side (east bank).

 

 

 

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This is a great little overlook and public access site. It is weirdly positioned, though. One has to wander down a very industrial area along 8th Ave in order to get here. This is the magic of Georgetown: industrial, residential, and small nooks like this all arranged in odd juxtapositions.

 

 

 

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There is likely an unwritten law and tradition that whenever one is out on the water and taking pictures, one must take pictures of various pilings and similar such human-made appurtenances. And maritime custom is among the most powerful. Who am I to argue against Neptune's dictates?

 

 

 

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We are steaming into the vestigial meander, where the Alaska is tied up.

 

 

 

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This boat is anchored at the end of the meander. I believe that is East Marginal Way above it.

 

 

 

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South Park Bridge upstream. On a scale of 1 to 100 (I think) the Viaduct has a safety rating of 8. The South Park Bridge is a 4.

 

 

 

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On the west bank, South Park side. The gears in this little park came from the Fremont Bridge, whose mechanical shop was renovated last year.

 

 

 

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I believe this belongs to Boeing.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD190019

 

 

South Park, west bank.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD190109

 

 

I love this balcony and enclosed back porch. From it, the residents have a great view of the South Park Bridge, which is behind us in the photograph.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD190147

 

 

 

 

 

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If I lived down here, I have a suspicion that this is what my house would look like as I hauled or floated in random found junk to be incorporated into various projects at some point.

 

 

 

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We've passed under the bridge. View downstream.

 

 

 

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This was a transfer site where liquid nitrogen was transferred between tanks and tanker trucks. These are merely harmless liquid nitrogen vapors sinking andvaporizing into the air, not pollutants being released into the river... although it looks dramatically otherwise.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD190811

 

 

 

 

 

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We are approaching Boeing Field and the Museum of Flight. I believe that 747 peeking out in the background is the first 747 ever built, rar!

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD191606

 

 

 

 

 

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This complex is part of an absurdly, entirely green shipyard operation. It captures any effluent and treats it before sending it into the river. This shipyard can afford it because it services some fairly hoghty-toighty ships.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD191718

 

 

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD191808BW

 

 

There's a wonderful story here of which I forget the specifics. A Vietnam vet with PTSD, who grew up in this area, started cleaning up the small creek that feeds into the river at this point. It was one of the few things that gave him solace. Eventually, his cleanup and educational outreach to local schools got the entire creek cleaned up and daylighted.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD191819

 

 

 

 

 

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This is the turning basin (officially Turning Basin Number [a number I don't remember]), the end of the navigable waterway at least to larger vessels. The river continues up past the low bridge in the background. Upstream of this point, it meanders, more or less naturally--at least as much as we allow streams to meander in urbanized areas.

 

 

 

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I love this marina "office". It looks like something I would do.

 

 

 

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These guys were still working.

 

 

 

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One of the large barge-borne crane dredges. This is the largest of the ones I've seen on the river.

 

 

 

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The railroad bridge was down. It is usually raised in favor of not obstructing river traffic.

 

 

 

item number: 20081101TRD195703

 

 

 

 

Seattle Views >> Waterfront >> 20081101--Duwamish

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All images Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License by Rev. Tom Dobrowolsky