Lake Nisqually is used to identify the freshwater lake formed in the
Puget Sound
Puget Sound ( ) is a sound of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Salish Sea. It is located along the northwestern coast of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected ma ...
trough, west of
Tacoma. It is sometime confused with Early Lake Russell which covered the same area during a previous northward retreat of the glacier. The glacier returned southward, then on its final retreat northward, the waters filing this basin are referred to as Lake Nisqually. Its discharge was across the Black Lake channel at above sea level.
[Washington Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 8; Glaciation of the Puget Sound Region; J. Harlen Bretz; Olympia, Wash, Frank M. Lamborn Public Printer; 1913]
Two deltas formed along the eastern margin of the lake from the outflow of
Lake Tacoma
Lake Tacoma is the name given the freshwater lake in the basin of the Puyallup River and the Green River (Duwamish River) at the point in time that the Vashon Glacier had receded northward into Commencement Bay. Prior to this, it was referred to ...
in the
Puyallup River
The Puyallup River ( ) is a river in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. About long, it is formed by glaciers on the west side of Mount Rainier. It flows generally northwest, emptying into Commencement Bay, part of Puget Sound. The ...
valley. Both the Steilacoom and Sequalichew deltas, at . A rise in level to reflects the closure of the Black Lake outlet while the two deltas were still growing.
The advance of the glacier sufficient to close the Black Lake outlet would turn the Nisqually River, and the drainage of the Steilacoom Plains across Chambers and Bush prairies.
During this advance the ice front would have been at a northeast-southwest course between Tacoma and
Olympia
The name Olympia may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games
* ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...
. The areas of
Lake Puyallup
Lake Puyallup developed along the south edge of the Puget Sound Glacier. The glacier was in retreat northward after having reached its most southerly point. Drainage off the north face of Mount Rainier and the melting ice of the glacier was tr ...
and
Lake Tacoma
Lake Tacoma is the name given the freshwater lake in the basin of the Puyallup River and the Green River (Duwamish River) at the point in time that the Vashon Glacier had receded northward into Commencement Bay. Prior to this, it was referred to ...
were not significantly affected. The Clover Creek and South Tacoma channels remained in use, and the gravel plains adjusted grades to the level.
[
It appears that clearing of the Narrows occurred during this retreat, and that Lake Tacoma was thus lowered, and became a part of Lake Russell.][
]
See also
*Nisqually River
The Nisqually River is a river in west central Washington in the United States, approximately long. It drains part of the Cascade Range southeast of Tacoma, including the southern slope of Mount Rainier, and empties into the southern end of Pu ...
* Frazer Glaciation
*Vashon Glaciation
The Vashon Glaciation, Vashon Stadial or Vashon Stade is a local term for the most recent period of very cold climate in which during its peak, glaciers covered the entire Salish Sea as well as present day Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and other surro ...
References
{{Puget Sound
Nisqually
Nisqually
Pierce County, Washington
King County, Washington
Thurston County, Washington
Geography of Washington (state)
Nisqually