Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam

Gazing at the Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam, it’s hard not to feel a sense of quiet strength. This isn’t a majestic mountain or a towering skyscraper. It’s a different kind of landmark, a testament to the city’s foresight and engineering prowess. The Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam, completed in 1947, plays a vital role in Seattle’s water system. It holds 7,000,000 gallons of water, a crucial part of the city’s water supply. This dam wasn’t the first attempt to quench West Seattle’s thirst. As early as 1916, the Seattle Water Department knew they needed more reservoirs in West Seattle. They acquired land near SW Cloverdale Street and 8th Avenue SW for the first reservoir. Back then, West Seattle relied on six wooden tanks with a combined capacity of just 300,000 gallons. More wooden tanks at SW Charleston Street and a steel tank at 36th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street brought the capacity to almost 1,000,000 gallons. Yet, the first reservoir at 8th Avenue SW and SW Trenton Street wasn’t finished until 1932. The Great Depression and World War II further delayed the second reservoir project. Finally, in 1945, land was purchased next to the existing 1919 tank on SW Myrtle Street. This site would become home to the Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam and a new elevated tank. The tank was finished in 1946, the dam the following year. The Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam wasn’t built in isolation. It connects to the West Seattle Reservoir to the south and the SW Charleston Street Standpipe to the north. Interestingly, the older 1919 tank remained on the site, a silent witness to the city’s growing water needs. The Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam wasn’t alone in its era. It was the second of three small distribution reservoirs constructed in quick succession. The 5,500,000-gallon Magnolia Manor Reservoir was completed in 1945. The 6,000,000-gallon Bow Lake Reservoir followed in 1948. The Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam site itself is quite a scene. The concrete-lined reservoir occupies the central part of a large grassy area, roughly between 35th and 36th Avenues SW, and SW Myrtle and SW Willow Streets. You’ll also see two older tanks on the site. The 500,000-gallon tank from 1919 and the 1,000,000-gallon tank from 1946 stand at the higher southern end along SW Myrtle Street. A concrete wall surrounds the mostly square reservoir. The wall is higher on the southern half, following the slope of the land. There are stairs leading down into the reservoir on the eastern side. Because the ground slopes downward from north to south, a large berm supports the east, west, and north sides. A service road enters from 35th Avenue SW and circles the reservoir. A high retaining wall borders the southern edge of the road, with stairs leading up to the two tanks. The Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam works in tandem with the SW Charleston Standpipe. They serve the 488-foot elevation pressure zone in southwest Seattle, filled by pumping water from the West Seattle reservoir and the SW Spokane Street Pump Station. Even today, the Southwest Myrtle Street Reservoir Dam stands as a vital part of Seattle’s water infrastructure. It’s a symbol of the city’s commitment to providing clean, reliable water for its residents. It stands as a quiet guardian, ensuring that even in a bustling city, the lifeblood of water keeps flowing.