No. 258 Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

Hiram Chittened Locks
3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107
MAP IT

Looking west towards Puget Sound from the Small Lock

The Hiram Chittened Locks, named after Army Major Hirman Martin Chittenden, opened to boat traffic in 1917. The locks are located on the western corner of Salmon Bay along the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Locally they are also known as "Ballard Locks" although there is a pathway that connects Ballard with the Magnolia Neighborhood to south.

Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lock infrastructure stretches nearly 400 feet across one of the widest bodies of water along the ship canal. Lake Union freshwater table is 20 feet above the salt waters of the puget sound. To prevent saltwater intrusion from the tidal puget sound entering the fresh waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington and disturbing the freshwater ecosystem a 40 foot tall dam was installed. 

The purpose of the Hiram Locks is to maintain the freshwater table of Lake Union at or above 20 feet above the saltwater puget sound table. This main function is done by a 235 foot long spillway with 6 hydraulic gates that are 32 feet long and 12 feet tall. They can be open or closed depending on the amount of drainage required. The Lake Union and Lake Washington water table has to be maintained within certain tolerances because of infrastructures east of the locks such as floating bridges, moorings, channel markers, and vessel clearances under bridges need to be accurate. 

During the summer time the spillway openings are reduced to raise the lake levels for recreational boaters and also store fresh water in case of drought conditions. 

In order for boats to pass to and from the lakes into the puget sound there are 2 ship locks at the north end. The large lock is 80 feet wide and 825 feet in length, and the smaller lock is 30 feet wide by 150 feet in length. Both locks can raise or lower boats in under 15 minutes. Everything from canoes, kayaks, pleasure yachts, sailboats to commercial fishing boats and container ships pass through the locks transporting over 1 million tons of cargo, fuel and seafood.

Control Light for the Small Lock 

Large Spillway to control Lake Water 

Boat exit the large lock into Lake Union

Between the large and small locks

West Larg Lock Gate closed

Control Tower for the lock system 

Looking down the 825 foot long large lock

Spillway from Ballard side

Salmon Waves," artist Paul Sorey

Salmon Waves," artist Paul Sorey

USCG Crew prepares the 45 FRB for the lock

USCG 45' FRB takes a ride on the boat elevator

Washington State travel, Washington State travel, Washington Destinations, Photography, Photography spost, best things to do in Seattle, Best things to in Washington State, Washington Tourism Alliance, Washington State Tourism board, recommendations, recommendations for things to see in washington state, things to do in washington state, things to do in seattle, things to do in Tacoma washington, Washington Photographers, Washington nikon shooters, best seattle photography, washington exploration, experience washington, what to do while visiting seattle, seattle top attractions, seattle food, Washington State travel, Washington State travel, Washington Destinations, Photography, Photography spost, best things to do in Seattle, Best things to in Washington State, Washington Tourism Alliance, Washington State Tourism board, recommendations, recommendations for things to see in washington state, things to do in washington state, things to do in seattle, things to do in Tacoma washington, Washington Photographers, Washington nikon shooters, best seattle photography, washington exploration, experience washington, what to do while visiting seattle, seattle top attractions, seattle food, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Ballard, lake union, boat, locks, boating, boating on south lake union, puget sound boating, uscg, uscg seattle, united states coast guard seattle washington,