Swale on Yale
Vulcan Real Estate and Seattle Public Utilities are partnering to develop a new water treatment biofiltration swale on Yale Avenue in the Cascade neighborhood of South Lake Union. The swale is a naturally functioning urban wetland area that is designed to clean storm-water from an area of Capitol Hill that currently discharges, unfiltered, into the south end of Lake Union. The swale will be located along the west side of Yale Avenue North and the east side of Pontius Avenue North between Thomas and Republican streets. Engineered to clean and filter over 188 million gallons of storm-water runoff from an area of over 160 acres annually, the swale will be integrated into the design of the sidewalks and public areas along Yale and Pontius Avenues. Not only will the swale provide a much needed benefit for the water quality of Lake Union, but it will also enhance the neighborhood with surface water, plants and wildlife. Construction of the Swale on Yale will begin in 2010.
