Lake Kapowsin

Lake Kapowsin
Lake Kapowsin is located in Washington (state)
Lake Kapowsin
Lake Kapowsin
LocationPierce County, Washington
Coordinates46°58′42″N 122°13′07″W / 46.97833°N 122.21861°W / 46.97833; -122.21861
Primary inflowsOhop Creek
Primary outflowsKapowsin Creek
Surface area512 acres (207 ha)
Average depth20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m)[1]
Max. depth30 ft (9.1 m)[1]
Surface elevation584 ft (178 m)[2]
Settlements

Lake Kapowsin /kəˈpaʊ.ə.sɪn/ is a lake in Pierce County, Washington, about halfway between Tacoma on Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier in the Cascade Mountains. The lake is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long and 0.15–0.5 miles (0.24–0.80 km) wide, lying in a channel formed by meltwater from the Puget lobe of the Vashon glacier during the Pleistocene glaciation. A small island, Jaybird Island, lies in the northern half of the lake.[3] As indicated by a drowned forest in the lake and other evidence, the Puyallup River was inundated about 550 years ago by a lahar from Mount Rainier called the Electron Mudflow.[4] The mudflow partially filled the channel (leading to its shallow, smooth bottom today) and blocked Ohop Creek's outlet, forming present-day Lake Kapowsin.[1]: A69–A70 

The Tacoma Rail shortline runs along the west side of the lake, as does Orville Road connecting Eatonville to the south with the town of Kapowsin.

The lake contains a number of fish species and is stocked with rainbow trout, rated "excellent" for fishing by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as is the yellow perch.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Crandell1963 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Kapowsin
  3. ^ 7.5 minute quadrangle map "Lake Kapowsin, WA", United States Geological Survey
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Crandell1971 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference wdfw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).