Background of the Cedar River Watershed Over the past several decades balancing water and natural resource uses between human use activities and protecting the environment has become more challenging in many watersheds in particular watersheds that have faced tremendous growth such as the Puget Sound Region. With the recent listing of several anadromous fish species under the Endangered Species Act, balancing of resources needs in the watershed has become more challenging by not only including different stakeholders but also requirements to meet federal statutes. This paper is intended to introduce the reader to several of the key issues in the watershed, associated stakeholders and how the issues are interrelated. With an understanding of how the issues are interrelated, the paper also provides insight into the different value systems held by the stakeholders and how they influence the overall balance of how the watershed should be used. Also included is a discussion of regulatory issues, science and political decisions, and an overall environmental ethical discussion focused on the stakeholders in the watershed and their perspectives from a meta-ethical viewpoint. The City of Seattle has recently completed a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, for the Cedar River Watershed and is in the process of implementing the plan. The HCP outlines how the City intends to manage the watershed to protect the listed species, but in the process also must account for how other stakeholders may be effected by future proposed actions. The development, approval and implementation of the plan provides an example of the balancing of the many competing uses of natural and water resources between the different entities in the basin. The HCP covers a broad array of activities including; (1) drinking water supply operations; (2) management of Forest Resources; and (3) hydroelectric power generation. This paper goes beyond the issues in the HCP to include a larger geographical area and broader range of activities or uses within the watershed. The following is a brief summary of the key physical components in the watershed and an identification of 9 issues that will be discussed in more detail in Section II. The Cedar River Watershed covers approximately 90,546 acres or 141 square miles. The Cedar River is part of the larger Lake Washington hydrologic system which drains a total 706 square miles. Upper Watershed. The upper Cedar River Watershed is located in southeast King County along the west slope of the Cascades. The watershed is owned by the City of Seattle. The upper watershed is rich in natural resources and historically has supported a timber harvest program. Today the upper watershed is closed to the public largely to protect water quality. The upper watershed is also home to a large and diverse number of plant and animal species. Numerous streams and rivers near the headworks at the cascade crest, drain into Chestor Morse Lake a 1,620 acre reservoir which is regulated by Masonry Dam built in 1916. Masonry pool, immediately west of Chester Morse Lake, serves as an additional impoundment. Water typically passes through Masonry Dam through penstocks driving two turbines. The hydropower facilities can generate up to 30 mega watts of power, enough to provide electricity to 30,000 homes. This represents about 1.5% of the City of Seattle’s total needs. The Cedar River then flows downstream 12 miles to the Landsburg Diversion Dam (river mile 21.9) which was originally built in 1901. At the Landsburg Dam facility, a portion of the river flows is diverted from the Cedar for water supply. The water is screened, disinfected by chlorination, and fluoridated. Water is then conveyed outside of the watershed to Youngs Lake through a tunnel for municipal water uses and industrial uses. Seattle Public Utilities operates water supply facilities in the Cedar River Watershed which provide 2/3 of the drinking water for 1.3 million people in the Seattle metropolitan area. The City of Seattle provides the water to residents in the City and to other municipal jurisdictions (26 different purveyors) through contracts. Below Landsburg to the Chittenden Locks. Flows not diverted for water supply continue from Landsburg to Renton and discharge into the southern end of Lake Washington. Minimum in-stream flows are required at Renton for fisheries resources and for operation of the Ballard Locks. Any water withdrawals from the Cedar River for drinking water purposes will have an effect on instream flows downstream. The Cedar River is home for many species of fish, many of which have been listed under the Endangered Species Act. The species present include the Bull trout, Coho Salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Steelhead trout. Although the Landsburg facility is not passable for fish, the lower watershed provides excellent spawning and rearing habitat. Adequate flows and the timing of flows are critical to the survival of these species. The species are not only allotted protection under the ESA, but the health of the salmon runs are important under tribal fishing treaties and with commercial and sport fishing groups. The health of the salmon runs is also an indicator species for the health of the overall ecosystem. The Cedar River was diverted into Lake Washington in approximately 1914, concurrently with the construction of the Ship Canal and Locks and the lowering of Lake Washington by 9 feet. Construction of an 8-mile ship canal, large and small lock, salt-water drain, spillway and fish ladder in 1916 provided a navigable connection between Puget Sound. Commercial and recreational navigation are yet one more use of the watershed.