The Ballard Locks
May 2017
As the Ballard Locks turn 100 years old, their sustainability has never been more
important or more in jeopardy.
ê The only locks in the U.S. that connects a large
urban lake system directly to the ocean
ê The keystone of a billion-dollar-plus maritime
economic system
ê A critical environmental control for the vast
watersheds around Seattle
ê An important safeguard for tribal fishing rights
ê A vital piece of public-safety infrastructure
Local businesses depend on the
Ballard Locks for:
$480 million
in Locks-dependent annual sales
$120 million
in Locks-dependent annual payroll
3,000 full-time
equivalent jobs
directly associated with Locks-
related business activity
$545 million
in annual commercial fishing
harvests by vessels that depend on
the Locks
$40 million
in annual spending by 1.25 million
visitors and school classes
THE NUMBERS
THE DOLLARS & JOBS
If the Locks were to close before the fleet
could leave for the season, it would cost a
whole season. —
Fishing Association
$1.2 BILLION IN TOTAL LOCKS-RELATED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
40,000 annual transits
most in the nation
7,500 commercial
vessel transits
twelfth highest in the nation
1.1 million tons
of shipping
Keystone of Puget Sound’s Maritime Economy
90
5
520
99
Lake
Sammamish
Lake
Washington
Duwamish
Waterway
Elliott
Bay
Ballard Locks
LOCKS ECONOMIC IMPACT AREA
A UNIQUE NATIONAL ASSET
Locks Economic Impact Area
Item No. 7b_attach_1
Meeting Date: June 27, 2017
Deferred maintenance threatens daily operations; lack of
reinvestment threatens the regional economy.
ê A dozen components at the Locks need major repair or
replacement.
ê An extended, unplanned closure of the Locks would have
significant negative effects on at least 200 businesses and
would threaten public safety.
Flat funding for routine operations and maintenance is
stretched thinner each year to keep the locks operational.
ê The potential for failure increases each year.
ê Only a small portion of long-term needs have been addressed.
The urgent need
for reinvestment
The study was conducted by McDowell
Group and administered by the Marine
Exchange of Puget Sound. The following
companies and organizations contributed
funds:
Ballard Oil Company
City of Kenmore
City of Seattle
Covich-Williams
Ferguson Terminal
Fremont Dock Company
Kirby Offshore Marine
Malone Law Group PS
Northwest Marine Trade Association
O’Hara Corporation
Port of Seattle
Stabbert Maritime
Vigor Industrial
Ballard Alliance
City of Kirkland
Coastal Transportation
CSR Marine
Foss Maritime Company
Kane Environmental
Lake Union Drydock Company
Nautical Landing Marina
Northwest Yacht Brokers Association
Pacific Fishermen Shipyard
Seattle Marine Business Coalition
The American Waterways Operators
Western Towboat
Puget Sound Ports Council Maritime Trades
Department AFL-CIO
Prepared by
A complete copy of the study is available at
portseattle.org
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE VALUE
The Locks control water levels in Lake Washington and Lake Union to maintain key
infrastructure that includes the Washington Route 520 and Interstate 90 floating
bridges, the water and sewer systems that serve Mercer Island’s 24,000 residents, and
approximately 75 miles of residential, municipal and commercial shoreline and moorage.
The Ballard Locks and its fish ladder safeguard an investment of more than $125 million
in freshwater salmon habitat protection and restoration over last two decades.
The Locks are the only marine access and egress point for equipment and supplies for
major infrastructure projects such as the $4.6 billion renewal of the Route 520 floating
bridge and removal of excavated material during construction of planned a $430 million
Ballard/Wallingford stormwater tunnel.
TRIBAL RIGHTS VALUE
The Ballard Locks are key to meeting federal trust (fiduciary) responsibilities under treaties
between the U.S. government and two federally recognized tribes by protecting migrating
salmon to safeguard
traditional and customary
tribal activities.
PUBLIC SAFETY VALUE
The Ballard Locks ensure
rapid emergency response
for public safety vessels
between Lake Washington
and Lake Union and Puget
Sound.
Funding Needed: 30 to $60 Million
