SHADOW: Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands

Protected Landscape
What's A Bog?
Who Lives in the Bog?
The Birds of Shadow Lake Bog
The Shadow Lake Bog Macrofungi Survey
Seattle Urban Nature Project Map of Shadow Lake Bog

Shadow Lake Bog History

When the glacier that covered the Puget Sound region receded, several heavy pieces of ice remained, compressing the ground beneath them. Shadow Lake formed in one of these glacial depressions. All water flowing to the lake comes from direct rainfall, springs, and the runoff from the surrounding uplands. With no outlet, the water seeped into the surrounding land, creating the ideal environment for sphagnum moss. The moss flourished, creating a bog.

Plants that thrive in the acidic bog environment dominated the landscape around the lake, including bog cranberry. This tart, colorful fruit was harvested by the Native Americans who lived in the area when they came to the Cedar River for the salmon runs. As the centuries passed, the layers of slowly decaying wood and moss built up, creating the beautiful, rare bog landscape.

In the late 19th century, settlers moved into the Cedar River Valley. Most of the settlers lived in the river valley or in the Cedar Mountain area. To reach Cedar Mountain, early travelers made a day’s journey by foot through the dense forest up the river valley from Renton. The going was rough, and the narrow trail was surrounded by brush and ferns—ferns that grew higher than a man is tall. Those settlers who were not involved in logging, mining, or supplying were farmers.

In the early days, the loggers focused on clearing those areas closest to the Cedar River and the rail line that was soon put through the valley. Farmers were interested in solid, fertile land, of which they found plenty as the loggers cleared the dense forest. The bog lake, then known as Spoon Lake, was considered worthless. The waters could not be plowed, and the unstable bog ground was dangerous and not as desirable to work as other land in the area. Consequently the woods around Spoon Lake remained untouched until after 1910.

In 1995, Max and Erin Prinsen purchased an 18-acre parcel in an attempt to prevent further destruction of this rare, 65-foot deep peat bog. Understanding the developmental pressures that were crowding this area, it became apparent that this unique environment had to be preserved. The Prinsens also recognized the opportunity for this property to serve as an educational experience as well as example to other landowners as to how to protect our environment and open spaces.

It was this vision, nurutred by the Prinsen's that brought forth SHADOW Habitat, which, as of 2007 has secured 95 acres of habitat critical land around Shadow Lake.